The United States signed a diesel contract with Russia on Friday, a move that has already sparked a fresh wave of Russian aerial attacks against Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
Russian bombs struck residential buildings in the city, killing 12 people, including three children, and injuring 14 civilians, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement on X.
Zelenskyy said the strikes were a direct response to Trump's decision, which he described as “a weak decision that will finance Moscow’s war.” He warned that easing sanctions would give Russia the financial muscle to “continue its military campaign and strike Ukrainian cities.”
The diesel agreement details Russia supplying 300,000 tonnes immediately, another 500,000 tonnes in November, and 1 million tonnes thereafter, with a further 3 million tonnes to be delivered “within a short period of time.” The deal stands in stark contrast to the sanctions law Trump signed last month aimed at curbing Russian oil and gas revenue.
In the days ahead, Ukrainian officials plan to pressure Washington to reconsider the agreement while Moscow may launch further targeted attacks. The next major development will be a U.S. congressional hearing on the legality and implications of the diesel deal, scheduled for June 5.