US President Donald Trump has announced plans to import Russian diesel, reversing his tough stance on Moscow’s energy exports as rising fuel prices threaten Republican prospects in the November 3 midterm elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the move, warning that it would help Russia finance its war against Ukraine.

Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the US and global markets. Another 500,000 metric tons are expected in November, followed by 1 million metric tons thereafter.

The announcement followed what Trump described as a “highly successful” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It comes despite Trump signing a sweeping Russia sanctions law last month. Washington has also imposed tariffs on countries, including India, for buying Russian crude oil.

Zelenskyy condemned the agreement while a Ukrainian delegation was in the US for talks on ending the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

“Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilised world,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

“Russia will ‘repay’ the diesel with further terror and perfidy,” he added, calling for genuine de-escalation on a reciprocal basis.

Speaking to reporters on WhatsApp, Zelenskyy said the deal would provide Moscow with additional resources to continue the war and weaken peace efforts.

“I believe our team is simply being used as a front. And that is certainly not fair, nor is it how partners should treat each other,” he said, describing the agreement as “a weak decision on the part of strong partners”.

According to Axios, the move followed repeated US requests for Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, which Washington said were contributing to higher fuel prices. During eight hours of talks in Miami on Friday, Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Ukrainian negotiators that Trump was expected to speak with Putin and lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports.

Zelenskyy reportedly offered to halt strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow stopped attacking Ukrainian power plants.

Trump said the Russian supplies would help lower fuel costs for American consumers, particularly farmers, ranchers and truckers.

“Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority,” he wrote on social media.

The announcement follows a G7 agreement to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel. US diesel prices have risen around 70% since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28.

The American Automobile Association reported an average diesel price of $6.27 per gallon, down 10 cents from a week earlier. The US Treasury Department issued a general licence allowing Russian diesel imports until April 7. Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the energy cooperation.

The initial 300,000 metric tons would equal approximately 2.25 million barrels, while the US exports around 1.5 million barrels of diesel daily.

Analysts questioned whether the deal would significantly reduce prices. Oil market researcher Rory Johnston said on X, “I cannot overstate how much of a nothing burger this is,” noting that Russia typically exports more diesel when its refineries are not under attack.

Jim Mitchell of Wood Mackenzie said, “It's clearly not a fix, but another stream to aid a very tight diesel market,”.

US diesel futures fell more than 4.8% to $4.64 per gallon following the announcement.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is considering measures to control fuel prices, including reviewing energy regulations and invoking the Defence Production Act to boost domestic production. Officials are also examining ways to expand refining capacity, with industry executives favouring upgrades to existing facilities over new plants that could take years to build.