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President Donald Trump’s efforts to reach a diesel agreement with Russia could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with fresh revenue to fund his war against Ukraine while allowing Moscow to buy time through negotiations it has little intention of honoring, a former NATO commander warned Sunday.
Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and head of U.S. European Command, told Fox News Digital that Washington also risks undermining Ukraine’s war effort by striking a deal with what he called “the enemy.”
“And so we are cutting a deal with the enemy,” Breedlove said, warning that “all of this money will go into fueling Mr. Putin’s continued attacks in Ukraine.”
The Russian government said Saturday it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports with immediate effect, following the new agreement between Putin and Trump for Russia to supply the U.S. and global markets, Reuters reported.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Trump’s package calls for the release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel “to the American and global marketplace,” followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes afterward.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The diesel agreement preceded Trump’s announcement Sunday of what he called an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, with the president saying both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, indicated that Ukraine had not been informed of a finalized ceasefire agreement but expressed willingness to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow reciprocated. He also accused Putin of repeatedly rejecting peace proposals and continuing strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps. Putin had one answer to all of them – ‘nyet,'” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace,” he added.
Zelenskyy also said Russian forces had carried out more than 200 strikes on Ukraine’s electricity generation and transmission facilities over the past week, along with 17 strikes targeting gas and oil infrastructure.
He said the attacks had killed more than 150 people and wounded more than 700 over the past week.
Trump’s “energy ceasefire” announcement followed tension between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, a component of Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance its military campaign.
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A view of Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of the Kremlin. (Reuters/Tom Szlukovenyi | Photo by Contributor/Getty Images | Fox News Digital)
Breedlove argued that Russia and Ukraine are pursuing different objectives, accusing Moscow of targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure while describing Kyiv’s attacks on Russian energy facilities as an effort to disrupt the revenue sustaining Putin’s war.
“Russia is carrying on a campaign of what we call counter value. In other words, Russia is attacking the Ukrainian people and trying to force their society to separate themselves from their president, President Zelenskyy,” Breedlove said.
Breedlove also predicted Washington would pressure Zelenskyy to suspend attacks on Russia’s oil industry despite their strategic importance.
“What I expect will happen is the United States will force or try to force Zelenskyy to stop bombing the petrochemical business in Russia,” he said.
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Overnight, Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war started as fires burned in Kyiv on May 25, 2025. (Reuters/Gleb Garanich)
Trump has vehemently criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that they are disrupting global diesel supplies and driving up costs for American farmers and ranchers.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s efforts to increase diesel supplies.
“We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have,” Bessent said Sunday on Fox News. “This is good for the American people, bringing these diesel prices down,” he said of the new deal.
Separately, appearing on ABC News’ “This Week,” Zelenskyy offered to organize Ukrainian elections if Putin agreed to a reciprocal 60-day ceasefire, although holding a vote would face legal and logistical obstacles under Ukraine’s martial law.
Breedlove also expressed deep skepticism that Putin would honor any such ceasefire, citing what he described as a pattern of Russian attacks following negotiations with Trump. “Russia has never kept a promise to this president in this war,” Breedlove said.
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U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Aug. 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Getty Images/ Andrew Harnik)
“He’s never changed his expectations, and he’s never delivered on his promises. Three out of four of the big cases, the very next day or that same night after the president and Mr. Putin talked, Mr. Putin launched huge attacks in Ukraine,” Breedlove continued.
Breedlove also called for a tougher U.S. response.
“We now need an administration that leads from power. We say all the time, ‘strength through power,’ but when it comes to Russia, our demonstrated position is continued conflict through weakness,” Breedlove warned.
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“He started this war. This war is to benefit Russia, and this war is to keep Mr. Putin in power. And our administration needs to tell him to stop.”