The United Kingdom does not support an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to purchase millions of tonnes of diesel fuel.
Britain’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said this on BBC Radio 4.
According to Streeting, the deal has emerged as Trump prepares for the November election and politicians in various countries come under pressure over the rising cost of living. At the same time, the British minister believes the United States and its allies should focus on increasing pressure on Russia to bring the war closer to an end and guarantee Ukraine’s freedom.
The diesel-fuel agreement is aimed at lowering fuel prices in the United States, which have risen after an escalation of the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said such a deal could provide Moscow with funds to buy new military equipment and continue the war. He also rejected Trump’s call to change Ukraine’s president, stressing that Ukrainians themselves must choose their leader.
Streeting voiced support for Zelenskyy, saying Ukraine is “fortunate to have at the head of its war effort a person of such calibre, such courage and integrity”. He also stressed that responsibility for the war “lies entirely and exclusively with Putin and his imperialist ambitions”.
The minister acknowledged that public disagreements have arisen between Washington and Kyiv, and said the United Kingdom is trying to bring allies’ positions closer together.
At the same time, Streeting underlined the importance of US assistance to Ukraine, including weapons supplies, intelligence support and diplomatic initiatives.
The Conservative Party’s shadow chancellor, Andrew Griffith, also criticised the diesel-fuel deal, saying it “sends entirely the wrong signals”. He stressed that the pursuit of peace must be accompanied by proper defence funding and preparation for possible threats.
Streeting added that Britain must plan defence spending with the risk of a Russian attack on NATO by 2030 in mind.
- Earlier, on 9 October, Trump said he had reached an agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on supplying Russian diesel fuel to the American and global markets. AXIOS reported that Trump decided to strike the deal after Zelenskyy refused Washington’s demand to unilaterally halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.