On 9 October 2026, President Trump announced he had struck a deal with putin for russia to supply diesel to the US and global markets.
This is a betrayal of Ukraine and the democratic world. It also undermines every partner, including Australia, that has kept sanctions on russian energy exports since 2022 when russia invaded Ukraine.
Energy exports are the main source of money for russia’s war. That money pays for the bombs and missiles fired at Ukrainian cities. The day after the deal was announced, russia dropped glide bombs on apartment blocks in Zaporizhzhia. At least 17 people were killed, including three children. President Zelenskyy said russia “expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions” with these bombs. On 8 October, a russian glide bomb hit two passenger buses in Kramatorsk and killed 33 people. The day before, a missile strike on Pryluky killed 22 people, including children. These ruthless attacks are financed by the russian war machine that Trump will now be directly funding.
Ukraine’s strikes on russian refineries forced Moscow to ban its own diesel exports in July. That pressure was working. This deal gives the Kremlin a way out and asks nothing in return. Putin made no promise to stop the attacks. He offered only to think about when talks might resume.
Energy analysts doubt this diesel will ever reach the market in meaningful volumes. Putin does not need it to. He has already gained sanctions relief and a public endorsement from the White House. This normalises dealing with a war criminal, while Ukrainians pay with their lives.
President Zelenskyy put it plainly: “Gifts to Putin will not bring peace.”
Rewarding the aggressor does not end a war. It funds the next attack.
The AFUO thanks Minister Chris Bowen MP for his clear statement yesterday that “Australia does not need or want russian fuel”. We welcome this firm stand. We urge the Australian Government to build on this position by closing the loophole that still allows russian crude refined in third countries to enter Australia.
On Thursday, 15 October at 2:00pm, members and supporters of the Ukrainian community in Canberra will protest outside the American Embassy.
Peace cannot be built by rewarding aggression while Ukraine continues to pay the price in innocent lives.
