Zelensky critical of Trump plan to buy Russia diesel oil, says amount won't lower global prices

Ukarian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the Trump administration's plan to buy diesel fuel from Russia – which invaded his country in 2022 – will not lower the costs. 

"I don’t believe the volume of diesel Russia will export will affect the price," Zelensky said in remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum, according to the Ukrainian president's X account.

President Trump said Friday that he had reached an agreement with Russia President Vladimir Putin to immediately import Russian diesel fuel to the U.S. market.

Zelensky argues the amount being imported is too small to lower costs on the global market.

"Moreover, we see that they can export from 300,000 to 500,000 tons a month today. Meanwhile, global consumption stands at 120 million tons a month. What kind of impact can that have? I don’t think it would have any," he said.

Zelensky also suggested the U.S. should have made such a deal with his country.

 " ... why isn’t America making a “diesel deal” with Ukraine? Let Ukraine propose a 'diesel deal.' We do have influence over whether these ships can sail or not, whether these refineries can operate or not."

He spoke amid President Trump saying Sunday that the warring countries have agreed on a ceasefire on energy sites. Russian invaded Ukraine in February 2022, amid a broader conflict between the two nations began in February 2014.

"If we can be guaranteed protection for our power system, then we will not strike Russia’s diesel infrastructure in response. Electricity is first and foremost about helping people – keeping their lights on. It also means helping Europe," Zelensky said.

Trump and Zelensky have a strained relationship. 

"It's time for Ukraine to get a new president," Trump said earlier this holiday weekend, blaming high diesel oil prices on Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy sites.

The cost of diesel prices remain at near-record highs, ​up 70% since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February.  The wars in Iran and Ukraine have resulted in a severe global fuel supply crunch, pushing the average price of diesel fuel in the U.S. to $6.28 a gallon on Friday, according to Reuters.