Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia could pave the way for broader economic agreements and additional sanctions relief, as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top envoys publicly pushes for expanded cooperation between Moscow and Washington.
“In my opinion, we cannot accept these deals. Because deals on gas will follow. And I am absolutely sure of that. After gas, they will also lift sanctions on other things,” Zelensky told reporters in Brussels on Friday.
He said his concerns extend beyond energy. “Everything will depend on the banking system, individuals and the chemical industry. »
The warning comes after Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy and a key figure in Russia-U.S. negotiations, told reporters on Wednesday that the diesel deal could serve as a model for other deals and that Moscow intended to continue its economic engagement with Washington.
Dmitriev also said on Friday that discussions were already underway on how the sanctions could be lifted. “Reflection sessions are already underway on how to lift these sanctions – this is exactly what the United States is working on now,” he said at the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow, according to Reuters.
The comments discuss the same possible next step from very different angles: Moscow sees the diesel deal as a model for broader economic ties, while kyiv warns it could lead to greater easing of economic pressure on Russia.
Later the same day, Trump signed an executive order waiving certain sanctions, restrictions and obligations under the Lindsey O. Graham Russia-Iran Sanctions Act of 2026, citing the national interest of the United States.
News week contacted the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, as well as the Russian and Ukrainian embassies in Washington, for comment.
Zelensky warns diesel deal could be just the beginning
Trump announced the diesel deal on October 9 following what he described as a “very fruitful discussion” with Putin. The deal aims to increase the supply of Russian diesel to the U.S. and global markets in an effort to reduce fuel prices.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control then issued General License 135, authorizing certain transactions involving diesel of Russian origin.
Trump defended the deal despite criticism from members of both parties, arguing that increasing global diesel supplies could lower prices.
“Well, I think it’s Republicans who can’t really be serious about it,” Trump said Monday at the White House, referring to Republican lawmakers opposed to the deal. “It’s not really a deal with me. It’s a deal for the rest of the world.”
He added: “Anything that could help our farmers, our ranchers, I like. »
Asked by News week On the prospect of broader U.S.-Russia economic cooperation and further sanctions relief, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the diesel deal but did not say whether other deals were being considered.
“President Trump successfully negotiated another important deal to supply the global market with massive quantities of diesel and drive down prices,” Rogers said.
“Lowering prices for big farmers, truckers and American families remains a top priority as the President simultaneously urges both sides in the Russian-Ukraine conflict to stop strikes against refineries, which are driving up costs and harming American consumers.”
Zelensky argued that easing restrictions on Russian diesel would instead provide Moscow with additional revenue for its war.
Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels on Friday, he said money would start coming back to Russia from the diesel deal and that would put more money “straight into Putin’s pocket to finance this war.”
His latest comments went further, saying the diesel deal could be followed by additional economic agreements and sanctions relief.
“Because gas deals will follow,” Zelensky said. “And I’m absolutely sure of it. After gas, they will lift sanctions on other things as well.”
Putin’s envoy sees diesel as model for broader cooperation
Dmitriev’s comments do not demonstrate that the Trump administration is planning the specific measures predicted by Zelensky.
But the Russian official made clear that Moscow views the diesel deal as a possible model for broader economic cooperation between the United States and Russia.
Dmitriev said there were now so many layers of sanctions against Russia that it had become difficult to navigate.
“There are so many levels of sanctions stacked on top of each other that everyone is confused; it is difficult now to find a way out of this situation,” he said.
The U.S. Treasury has asked the Russian Direct Investment Fund, led by Dmitriev, to help resolve payment issues related to the diesel deal, he told Reuters.
The Treasury’s request relates to the implementation of the existing diesel agreement, not additional agreements. But it comes as Dmitriev publicly advocates broader economic ties and discusses removing sanctions that complicate cooperation.
Zelensky’s warnings come amid a broader deterioration in his relations with Trump. Trump criticized Ukraine’s leader on Thursday over kyiv’s new strikes on Russian oil facilities, calling the attacks a “disgrace” and arguing they were driving up global oil prices.
The dispute increasingly places energy policy at the center of tensions between Washington and kyiv: Ukraine has sought to deprive Moscow of energy revenues, while Trump has focused on lowering fuel prices and increasing supplies in the run-up to the US midterm elections.
Trump uses Graham Act waiver authority
Trump signed an executive order Friday using the Graham Act’s national interest waiver authority to waive enforcement of certain sanctions, restrictions and obligations under the law.
“I have submitted to Congress a certification that granting such a waiver at this time is in the national interest of the United States,” Trump said in the order released by the White House.
The order sets a 500 percent tariff on Russian products and a potential 100 percent tariff on products from certain large buyers of Russian oil and gas, but simultaneously waives their application. The waivers will remain in effect until Trump or the Secretary of State, in consultation with other administration officials, determines that additional action is appropriate.
The order states that the waiver does not affect sanctions imposed by Russia under previous executive orders.
Before Trump issued the order, Dmitriev said the Graham Act would effectively prohibit investment cooperation between Russia and the United States.
“This law clearly hinders Russian-American projects, as well as the role that both countries play in stabilizing energy markets and in their operations in the global market,” he said.
His comments come as the diesel deal itself faces bipartisan opposition in Congress.
A group of 22 House lawmakers on Thursday urged Trump to revoke the diesel authorization and fully implement the Graham Act, arguing that the administration should not issue new blanket licenses reopening Russian energy transactions.
“We urge the administration to revoke this license and not issue further blanket licenses that would reopen Russian energy transactions and restore revenue to the Kremlin war chest,” the lawmakers wrote.
The dispute has also raised questions about how the diesel deal fits into the sanctions law.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told NBC Meet the press On Sunday, there were “legitimate arguments” to claim that Trump “did not follow the law.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected that argument, saying the administration had the authority to implement the diesel deal.
“Anyone in Congress who says whether this is an old bill or Lindsey Graham’s current bill (that) prohibits us from doing this is wrong,” Bessent told Fox News. Fox and friends.
Trump’s decision Friday to invoke the Graham Act’s waiver power puts the broader issue of economic pressure on Moscow at the center of the debate. Dmitriev is publicly touting the diesel deal as a potential starting point for broader economic cooperation, while Zelensky has warned that other deals and sanctions relief could follow.
News week Reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins
Gn headline
