Ukraine says it will keep attacking Russian refineries despite Trump-Putin diesel deal

Ukraine has vowed to continue attacking Russian oil refineries, despite a recent deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase Russian diesel fuel, according to a Ukrainian official. "We will burn [Russian] oil refineries," the official stated. The Financial Times reported that Russia is currently operating its refineries at around 60% capacity due to Ukrainian attacks.

Experts noted that Moscow may struggle to fulfill the deal with the U.S. due to a lack of refineries and export restrictions. The United States, which has never been a major buyer of Russian diesel, only purchased about 77,000 tons a month in months when it did buy the fuel, with the highest purchase being 210,000 tons in January 2022.

U.S. President Trump announced the deal with Putin on Oct. 9 following a phone call, stating the agreement was meant to lower prices. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the U.S. decision weak, accusing the team negotiating the deal in the U.S. of being used as a "smoke screen."