Does Trump demand Europe stop delivering weapons to Ukraine? Did the Kremlin slap Trump hard by bombing the Kharkiv thermal power plant?

To achieve this goal, Trump has acted with extraordinary ruthlessness—so much so that I even suspect whether Trump has been caught in some compromising situation by the Kremlin, or whether I am simply unable to defend him against accusations of being a 'Krasnov.' According to the Financial Times, over the weekend the Trump administration called European countries demanding—note: not requesting, but demanding—that they halt arms deliveries to Ukraine. U.S. officials are actively severing the weapons supply lines upon which Ukraine depends for survival. In addition to threatening to cut off intelligence sharing, the Trump administration also threatened to suspend the PURL procurement system and halt third-party arms sales to Ukraine. The U.S.-Ukraine negotiations held in Miami ended prematurely—or rather, collapsed—after Trump suddenly announced the easing of sanctions against Russia and authorized Russia to export millions of barrels of diesel to the United States and worldwide. As for whether the Ukrainian military’s continued use of Starlink will be restricted: although some friends argue this is a commercial agreement and SpaceX would not breach its contract, these friends overestimate Elon Musk—Musk has already publicly voiced support for Trump’s pressure campaign against Ukraine. Moreover, the media has revealed a series of other highly damaging reports for Ukraine, including but not limited to: If Ukraine continues striking Russian oil refineries, the Trump administration will impose sanctions on the Ukrainian military and Ukrainian companies—especially Ukrainian drone manufacturers and firms supplying them with components. Trump is determined to prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian refineries—or, put differently, to shield Russian refineries from such attacks. Through secret negotiations, Trump has reportedly agreed to provide Moscow with major economic incentives—including unfreezing up to $100 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets and easing sanctions on Lukoil and potash exports. These reports remain unconfirmed by official sources. Yet Trump’s relaxation of sanctions against Russia—and his authorization for Russia to export diesel to the U.S. and globally—is factual (the Russian government simultaneously lifted its own diesel export restrictions). While these Russian diesel imports may mean little to the U.S. and may not even stabilize domestic fuel prices—or help Trump alleviate political pressure ahead of the midterm elections—they have undeniably cracked open the West’s tightly sealed sanctions regime against Russia. More cracks may follow, further undermining the sanctions architecture. Seven bipartisan U.S. senators publicly condemned Trump for violating the 2022 law banning imports of Russian energy. They noted Trump made this decision without consulting Congress or providing any legal justification. Purchasing Russian diesel, they argued, directly funds the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, and demanded the Trump administration immediately rescind its decision. At the time of writing, although criticism has flooded the U.S.—including from many staunch MAGA figures—the U.S. Congress has yet to take concrete action. Perhaps only after the November midterms will serious steps—including possible impeachment—emerge. Beyond a handful of pro-Russian European states like Slovakia, most European nations and Ukraine strongly oppose Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine and European allies, as well as his relaxation of sanctions against Russia. German media commented: 'Will Trump’s diesel deal lower diesel prices in the U.S.?'

What do you think of Trump’s announcement permitting imports of Russian diesel?

It’s too painful to watch. Trump plays dirty—no rules, no ethics. What does it mean for the U.S. to import diesel from Russia? First, the U.S. and Israel instigated the Iran war. Iran then either severed or severely disrupted navigation through the 'Schrödinger Strait'—causing an upward trend in global oil prices. Next, the U.S. ramped up its own oil and gas production. Due to constraints on the 'Schrödinger Strait,' the world’s two main diesel producers—Russia and China—halted diesel exports, triggering a global diesel shortage. The U.S. government initially considered banning diesel exports—but soon realized this would only drive prices higher. The reason: many parts of the U.S. rely on imported diesel due to logistical convenience; merely banning U.S. diesel exports wouldn’t lower domestic fuel prices. Trump then performed a slick about-face, claiming he never intended such a ban in the first place… The U.S. government eased restrictions on 'red diesel' and cut related taxes. It pressured U.S. producers to release massive diesel reserves—depleting not only America’s own stocks but those of all its allies. Yet still, it didn’t work. Now, Trump claims the U.S. will import diesel from Russia—a country under sanctions and itself suffering fuel shortages. Zelenskyy ignored Trump and intensified strikes against Russia’s oil-and-gas infrastructure: 'Looks like a birthday present for Putin.' This news broke while Ukrainian negotiators were engaged in preliminary ceasefire talks in Miami alongside Vitkov and Kushner. Thus, the Trump administration’s modus operandi is: threaten allies, drain allied fuel reserves, and greenlight enemy refineries. Meanwhile, Europe’s embargo on Russian goods remains fully in force. Just hours after Trump reportedly struck the diesel deal with Putin, a Ukrainian drone reportedly struck a Russian fuel export terminal, igniting a massive fire. Sanctions were relaxed mere moments after the diesel deal was announced—and Zelenskyy accused Trump of handing Putin a 'big gift.' Hours later, a Russian fuel export facility erupted in flames. According to reports, a Ukrainian drone struck the Novoshakhtinsk Petroleum Products Terminal (NZNP) in Russia’s Rostov Oblast, sparking a large fire. Once fully operational, this facility is designed to store and export approximately 3.5 million tons of refined fuels annually.

Trump’s Diesel Deal Irks Allies and Is Unlikely to Reduce Prices

Oct 12, 2026

President Trump proposed releasing Russian diesel to lower US fuel prices before midterms, but experts doubt the deal's legality and efficacy due to sanctions, shipping delays, and insufficient supply volumes.

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