Trump’s diesel deal derailed Ukraine-Russia peace progress, says Czech president

Czech President Petr Pavel claims a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was on the verge of being reached, until U.S. President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. In an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, Pavel stated that the sanctions put Russia "under strain." However, Trump's recent deal that allowed Russia to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to the U.S. was seen as giving Russia "time to breathe."

This momentum allowed Russia to distance itself from external pressure and boost its moral standing. The White House claims Trump negotiated the deal to supply the global market with diesel and bring prices down. The deal faced backlash, with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators urging Trump to rescind it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the deal "plays into Russia's hands," allowing Russia to continue waging war for longer.

Zelenskyy accused Trump of using peace talks as a "smokescreen" and pursuing the deal with Russia. Pavel expressed support for Zelenskyy, stating that Ukraine is a "victim of the conflict" and not responsible for attacking Russia. He also noted that Trump's approach to Russia is more open than any European leader, attributing it to a focus on economic prosperity for the United States.

Though Pavel expressed concerns about the diesel deal, he did not directly accuse the U.S. of betraying Ukraine or other European partners, calling it a "mistake" instead. He also did not rule out the possibility of European countries buying Russian oil in the future, but believed it would take time for Russia to respect other countries' sovereignty and borders.