’This is fuel that will spark even bigger war,’ - Zaluzhnyi criticised diesel deal between US and Russia
The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, is grateful to the UK Government for its consistently clear and uncompromising stance on putting pressure on Russia.
He writes about this on Facebook, according to Censor.NET.
Zaluzhnyi’s reaction
According to him, London is once again proving that it remains a loyal and reliable ally of Ukraine, one that understands the international situation and is fully aware of all the strategic risks posed by Russia’s actions and the easing of sanctions against it.
"Every day, the Russians are killing Ukrainians and destroying our peaceful cities and civilian infrastructure. Russia’s entire state apparatus is now geared exclusively towards a war of aggression. Putin’s sole logic is to continue the aggression for as long as he has the resources to do so and until he is stopped by force," emphasises Zaluzhnyi.
He also points out that easing the economic and sanctions pressure on Russia would merely encourage further escalation, which could very easily and quickly spread beyond Ukraine and beyond Europe. Such a relaxation cannot be justified by anything – neither by business logic nor by political declarations.
"We cannot negotiate with the aggressor at the expense of Ukrainian lives – that is fuel that will ignite an even bigger war. I would like to thank Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the people of the United Kingdom for their solidarity and steadfast support for Ukraine in our struggle," the Ukrainian ambassador concluded.
Diesel agreement
- On 9 October, US President Donald Trump stated that he had spoken with the Russian dictator Putin, with whom he had agreed on the supply of diesel fuel from Russia to markets in the US and around the world.
- According to him, Russia will "immediately" supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets, a further 500,000 tonnes during November, and another million tonnes "immediately afterwards".
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The US Department of the Treasury has announced that, on Trump’s instructions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control is immediately issuing a temporary general licence to permit the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the global market.
- In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia’s authorisation to sell petroleum products as an "investment in war" and called on the US to hold firm talks with Moscow and impose sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Act.
- It should be recalled that, against the backdrop of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, the Russian authorities have extended the ban on diesel fuel exports on several occasions, at least until the end of October.
- The US President has publicly stated that Ukraine must cease its attacks on Russia’s energy sector, as this, he claims, is leading to a shortage of diesel fuel. According to him, the shortage has arisen precisely because of the war in Ukraine, and not because of the US war against Iran.
- Similar statements have been made by other American politicians. For instance, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s energy sector are leading to an energy crisis. He cited the war with Iran as the second cause of the crisis.
