Why Trump had to bow down to Putin?
Trump has changed his stance on Russian oil.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a major energy supply agreement with Russia on Friday. Under this agreement, Russia could supply approximately 5 lakh tonnes of diesel to global energy markets. Trump provided details of the agreement following a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Immediately after, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a temporary general license allowing the purchase of Russian diesel until April 7 next year.
Now the U.S. has lifted the ban on purchasing Russian diesel until April 7, 2027. Announcing this on Friday, Trump said that this decision would increase diesel supply worldwide, leading to lower prices. Notably, just in September, Trump had signed a law that could impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries like India and China that purchase oil from Russia.
According to a report by Reuters, he has repeatedly stated that Russian President Putin should only receive relief from the U.S. after stopping the war. However, Trump has now changed his stance on Russian oil.
This move is part of Trump's efforts to reduce domestic energy prices ahead of the crucial midterm elections in the U.S. Due to widespread concerns about high inflation and everyday expenses, the performance of the President's Republican Party in these elections is expected to be poor. Thus, the announcement to reduce prices through additional diesel supply is also considered politically significant.
Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social,
I just had a very successful conversation with President Putin of Russia. It was agreed that Russia will immediately supply more than 3 lakh tonnes of diesel to American and global markets. Additionally, 5 lakh tonnes will be supplied in November, followed shortly by 10 lakh tonnes of diesel. Furthermore, based on the status of its diesel refineries, Russia will supply 30 lakh tonnes of diesel within a short time thereafter.
Trump also claimed that this announcement would lead to a rapid decrease in diesel prices for American and global consumers. The agreement mentions that initial supplies will start immediately, followed by additional diesel available in different phases. However, the proposed supply of 30 lakh tonnes in the final phase will depend on the condition of Russian refineries.
It is currently unclear how this energy agreement with Russia will affect the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026’. President Trump signed this law last month. Its clear objective was to severely impact Russia's earnings from energy exports. The law directs the President to impose heavy tariffs on goods coming from the countries that are the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Under this law, goods coming from the five countries that purchased the most oil and gas from Russia in the 12 months prior to the signing of the law will be subject to tariffs of up to 100%.
India, China, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Hungary were seen as the potential five countries affected by this law. The new energy agreement with the U.S. is also significant for these countries as the deadline for imposing tariffs is approaching.
According to the law,
the President must impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil within 30 days. This deadline will expire on October 18. However, the law also gives President Trump the authority to grant exemptions based on national interest. Such exemptions could allow a country to be exempt from these tariffs. Following the announcement of the energy agreement between the U.S. and Russia, uncertainty has arisen about whether the proposed tariffs will actually be imposed or not. The message is clear: first, there were talks of imposing sanctions and tariffs. The bill was passed, and now we have gone to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed skepticism about this announcement.
He wrote on X,
Giving any kind of relief from sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting agreement to reduce tensions is clearly a sign of weakness. It plays into Russia's hands—allowing it to kill more people, prolong the war, have even less respect for the U.S., and cause more harm to the world.
In recent months, the Ukrainian army has attacked Russian oil refineries. There have also been some differences between Kyiv and Washington regarding these attacks. The U.S. fears that disruptions in Russian energy exports could lead to a sharp rise in global prices. Against this backdrop, the U.S. decision to increase diesel supply from Russia and grant temporary permission for its purchase has emerged.
This decision came at a time when a Ukrainian delegation was in the U.S. to discuss ways to end the war. Additionally, there are less than four weeks left until the U.S. congressional elections on November 3. The Republican Party is trying to maintain its slim majority.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies in October 2025. These were related to the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022. According to Reuters, the sale of diesel could earn Russia billions of dollars. This potential revenue has raised questions from Ukraine and some U.S. lawmakers.
Zelensky stated that the agreement would provide Russia with additional funds for the war and weaken efforts towards peace.
He also questioned the presence of his delegation in the U.S. Zelensky stated that he felt his team was put forward for show while the announcement of the diesel agreement with Russia was made at the same time. According to him, this sequence of events raises questions about the ongoing negotiations to end the war.
Objections to the agreement have not only come from Ukraine. Republican Congressman Don Bacon has also criticized the decision. He stated that it is time to implement the sanctions recently passed by Congress, not to lift them.
According to Reuters, Bacon said that when the Russian army is killing Ukrainian civilians, Putin should not be given more money. His response indicates that there is dissent within Trump's own party regarding this agreement with Russia.
Since the war against Iran was initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, diesel prices have risen by 70%. According to the vehicle drivers' organization AAA, the average price of diesel in the U.S. reached $6.28 per gallon on Thursday.
Following the news of the agreement, U.S. diesel futures prices fell by nearly five percent, settling at $4.64 per gallon. However, market experts have cautioned against assuming this decline as a permanent relief. Trump may issue new directives in the coming days, instructing department heads to explore ways to control diesel prices. The Defense Production Act from the Cold War era may also be used to increase oil and fuel production.