Criticism of diesel deal between US and Russia is hypocritical on part of EU, - Bessent
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the EU of "hypocrisy" and criticised Europe for its criticism of US purchases of Russian diesel.
He made these remarks during an appearance on Fox News, according to Censor.NET.
Details
"Since the start of this war, the Europeans have given the Russians more money than they have given the Ukrainians, because they cannot do without Russian energy resources.
Their energy policy has been a failure, and Vladimir Putin… they continue to fund him. So for them to say that we cannot get a respite from diesel prices is utter hypocrisy," he said.
The diesel deal
- On 9 October, US President Donald Trump stated that he had held talks with the Russian dictator Putin, with whom he had agreed on the supply of diesel fuel from Russia to US and global markets.
- According to him, Russia will "immediately" supply over 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets, a further 500,000 tonnes in November, and another million tonnes "immediately afterwards".
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The US Treasury Department 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 repeatedly extended the ban on diesel fuel exports until at least the end of October.
- The US President has publicly stated that Ukraine must cease its strikes on the Russian energy sector, as this, he claims, is leading to a diesel fuel shortage. 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 US politicians. For instance, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Ukrainian strikes on the Russian energy sector were causing an energy crisis. He cited the war with Iran as the second cause of the crisis.
