Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by Trump! Why is diesel red? Because it’s mixed with Ukrainian blood.

Trump is using these underhanded, despicable tactics to pressure Ukraine—forcing it to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and compelling it to accept a so-called 'peace agreement' favorable to, or even drafted by, the Kremlin. In an interview in London, Zelenskyy frankly admitted feeling betrayed by Trump: "It is regrettable that we are losing a strong partner—but not because of us. We cannot afford weakness." Zelenskyy suggested Trump may have already tilted toward Russia—"not standing on the right side of history"—while affirming he himself would never betray his country or resign under Trump’s pressure. Frankly speaking, Zelenskyy’s performance in the British media interview was highly inspiring—but it also inadvertently signaled another development: the renewed rupture between Zelenskyy and Trump. Though inevitable, this breakdown will severely impact Ukraine’s ongoing resistance war: among the many indispensable capabilities Ukraine currently needs, only the United States can provide them. Ever since Trump abruptly announced he had reached an agreement with Putin—easing sanctions on Russia and permitting Russian diesel exports to the U.S. and worldwide—the fallout has been constant and dramatic, provoking fierce backlash from Ukraine, its supporters, and within the U.S. itself. Today, I won’t dwell on domestic U.S. condemnations and criticisms—instead, I’ll share just one cartoon: "Why is diesel red? Because it’s mixed with Ukrainian blood." As for concrete action, unfortunately, it remains rather weak. The latest development is a bipartisan Senate group led by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal (comprising six Democrats and six Republicans) urging Trump to cancel the diesel supply agreement with the Russian government—calling it "a gift to the enemy" and "a betrayal of Ukraine," which would only provide the Kremlin with additional war funding while having virtually no effect on U.S. diesel prices. Meanwhile, if Ukraine halts strikes on Russian energy infrastructure while Russia continues its attacks, "Trump will look like a fool." Trump is well aware of this. His envoys, Vitkov and Kushner, told Ukrainian officials that the U.S.-Russia diesel agreement "could soften" Moscow’s stance and restart negotiations. But the Kremlin promptly stated publicly that the U.S.-Russia diesel agreement is merely an independent economic deal—unrelated to peace talks over Ukraine—and that there is no such thing as an "energy ceasefire." The Kremlin had already made clear to these two envoys that genuine negotiations would only be considered after Russia secures control over the remaining parts of Donbas. Personally, though Trump is "stupid and malicious," I don’t believe he’ll continue letting the Kremlin manipulate him once he realizes he’s been duped—Trump isn’t *that* foolish. Nor do I believe Trump is some kind of "Krasnov." Trump’s recent moves—especially easing sanctions on Russia and finalizing the U.S.-Russia diesel agreement—likely serve but one ultimate purpose: scapegoating for his looming midterm election defeat—blaming Zelenskyy, whom he has long disliked. House Speaker Mike Johnson, in an interview, acknowledged widespread public dissatisfaction with fuel prices, stressing that this has nothing to do with government policy or Republican governance—but rather with the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, "where the crisis remains unresolved."

D.1694: U.S. reduces intelligence assistance; diesel agreement fails to curb inflation.

Ukraine only needs the U.S. while resisting Russia—not when surrendering—and yet the U.S. persistently exerts effort where it’s unnecessary, achieving nothing useful. Russia’s recent losses to its data centers have been enormous: a normal country would need half a year and several billion dollars to recover. But under sanctions—and with corporations holding no financial reserves—actual repair efforts and budgetary requirements will far exceed expectations, and there’s a high likelihood recovery won’t be achieved until the war ends. Yandex is not merely a search engine—it’s also an e-commerce platform, navigation service, ride-hailing app, food delivery service, and payment system. Data loss and service outages have severely disrupted daily life for Russian citizens—including inability to shop online, make mobile payments, navigate, or order takeout—impacting people far more than the disappearance of Wildberries’ warehouses. More critically, Russia’s online troll army has shrunk by 70–80%. This is the most lethal blow: with Russian forces stalled and retreating on the front lines, and failing to achieve meaningful results from rear-area airstrikes, they’ve relied entirely on online propaganda to maintain a veneer of legitimacy—now, their sole remaining battlefield advantage has vanished. Since the U.S. has already dropped all pretense, Ukraine no longer needs to hold back. It should launch unrestricted strikes against *all* Russian refineries—striking until Russia cannot even fulfill its promised 3 million-ton diesel export quota—and send a clear message to America: "If you want a diesel agreement, sign it with Ukraine—not with the wrong party." Appendix: Briefing. Senior Russian officials explicitly stated that the Iran conflict—not Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries—is the primary driver behind the global diesel shortage, leveraging the October 9 fuel agreement to persuade the U.S. to support Russia’s negotiating position. On October 12, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Alexander Novak said "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz" has caused a broad decline in global refining capacity, destabilizing diesel markets in both the U.S. and globally. Similarly, on October 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko stated that the key to stabilizing U.S. fuel supplies lies in "resolving conflicts around Iran." Kremlin officials acknowledged the Iran conflict as the critical driver behind U.S. and global diesel shortages—contradicting earlier claims by lower-level Russian officials and ultranationalist voices who had insisted Ukraine’s refinery strikes were *not* responsible for soaring global diesel prices. Meanwhile, Kremlin officials continue framing the October 9 agreement as a diplomatic gesture toward the U.S. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), stated on October 12 that some Western officials oppose the U.S.-Russia diesel agreement precisely because they recognize its profound benefits for "the world and peace." On October 13, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov affirmed the agreement forms part of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, explicitly denying any direct link to Russia’s negotiating stance on Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly offered the U.S. purportedly Ukraine-war-unrelated economic incentives in exchange for American concessions on the war. Russia heavily relies on oil revenues to fund its war in Ukraine; persuading the U.S. to force Ukraine to cease striking its refineries would yield Russia disproportionate gains. At the same time, Russian officials are attempting to reassure domestic audiences concerned about fuel shortages inside Russia.

Diesel Deal Opens Way for More Russia-US Cooperation, Kremlin Envoy Says

Oct 14, 2026

Kremlin envoy states a Russia-US diesel deal could facilitate broader economic cooperation despite sanctions. President Trump aims to lower fuel prices before elections, though critics warn it undermines Ukraine peace efforts.

reuters

Diesel Deal Opens Way for More Russia-US Cooperation, Kremlin Envoy Says

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