EU Foreign Policy Chief Presses Trump to Maintain Sanctions on Russia amid Diesel Deal

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged US President Donald Trump to maintain pressure on Russia and reconsider a deal allowing Russian diesel supplies to enter international markets. She warned that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports could provide Moscow with additional revenue to continue its war against Ukraine.

Kallas criticised the agreement following a phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the United States and global markets, with further shipments planned in the coming months, subject to the condition of Russian refineries.

Kallas Warns Against Easing Pressure on Moscow

Kallas said the suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel would increase Moscow’s earnings and weaken efforts to restrict the financial resources supporting its military campaign. She stressed that the EU did not intend to ease its own pressure on Russia.

The EU foreign policy chief also indicated that European foreign ministers were expected to approve a new package of sanctions targeting Russia on October 12. The planned measures reflect Brussels’ continued efforts to limit Moscow’s access to resources linked to the war in Ukraine.

Trump Defends Diesel Agreement

Trump has presented the deal as a way to increase fuel supplies and ease rising energy prices in the United States. The agreement comes as his administration faces pressure over fuel costs ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

According to reports, the planned deliveries include an initial shipment of more than 300,000 tonnes, followed by additional supplies in November and subsequent months. The US Treasury has also issued a waiver covering previously sanctioned Russian fuel, facilitating the proposed transactions.

However, the agreement has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both major US political parties. A bipartisan group of seven senators has called on Trump to reverse the decision, arguing that lifting restrictions on Russian energy imports could conflict with legislation designed to prevent American payments from supporting Russia’s war effort.

Ukraine and European Allies Raise Concerns

The dispute has highlighted differences between Washington and its European allies over how to manage energy supplies while maintaining economic pressure on Russia. European leaders have continued to express support for Ukraine, while warning that renewed Russian energy revenues could undermine efforts to constrain Moscow.

The diesel agreement also comes amid wider instability in global energy markets, with disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran contributing to higher fuel prices. While the US administration is seeking to increase supplies, European officials remain concerned that easing sanctions could weaken the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kallas’s intervention underscores the challenge facing Western governments as they balance domestic energy pressures with their commitments to Ukraine. The disagreement over Russian diesel could further complicate coordination between the United States and the European Union on sanctions and energy policy.