Trump announce deal for Russian diesel as Zelensky call am 'gift to Putin'

Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky don condemn di announcement of US president Donald Trump deal to import Russian diesel into di US.

Zelensky call am gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin wey amount to "an investment for di war wey must end, make e no drag too much".

Trump tok say Putin bin agree to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately "to di American and global marketplace" followed by 500,000 tonnes for November and anoda millions afta am.

Tori be say, e be like say di US Treasury dey suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April as part of di deal, but oda assets like di ones for American banks still dey frozen.

For im Truth Social post, Trump add say anoda three million tonnes of Russian diesel go dey delivered "within short period", dependent on di condition of di refineries, wey Ukraine don attack.

Putin later tok say Russia, wey bin introduce ban on diesel exports earlier dis year, dey willing to supply both di US and global markets wit oil and petroleum products,but im statement no specify di amounts.

For one post on social media, Zelensky say Russia go repay di diesel wit "further terror".

"We count on America fair support for our defence of life, for our defence of pipo in Ukraine – and on di United States wey get corresponding strong tok-tok wit Russia. Strong one, no be weak one," im write.

Analysts, however, don question weda Russia dey capable of providing dat quantity of diesel and di extent to which to do am go ease prices for American consumers.

Tim Armitage, investment strategist for Quilter Cheviot, say di numbers mentioned by Trump dey "relatively small".

Im tok say di first tranche wey be approximately 2.25 million barrels, and daily US consumption bin dey around 3.8 million barrels, "so e no go make any material difference to pump prices for di US".

"Granted, e get two more releases to come, but e appear to be slightly desperate move by President Trump to try to lower inflation ahead of di midterms."

Di BBC don ask di White House wetin Russia go get from di US in return for di commitment.

Meanwhile, di UK govment spokesperson say dia position "no go fit dey clearer" and e fit continue to work wit international partners to support Ukraine and bring about sustained peace.

"We go also maintain pressure on Russia through di toughest sanctions regime wey di UK don ever impose, increasing di cost of Putin aggression and to support efforts to secure just and lasting peace."

Di announcement on Friday na di latest effort from Trump to lower fuel prices for di US, as im don spend months dey struggle wit di political consequences of di Iran war, wey start for February, and di impact on global energy prices.

Di kasala don send di cost of petrol and, in particular diesel, go up well-well for America in recent months, wey don spoil im standing wit di public wey dey buy higher pump prices and knock-on effects wey led to across-di board inflation.

Di average diesel price for di US na currently $6.28 (£4.74) per gallon, according to di AAA, down from di record high of $6.53 wey dem bin record for di end of September.

Shortly afta Trump announcement, di US Treasury formally issue temporary licence wey go allow Russian diesel enta di market.

Putin tok for statement say im bin don speak to Trump about di global energy situation on Friday, im add say: "Di Russian side confam dia willingness to supply oil and petroleum products to di US market and global markets at large."

An envoy for Putin, Kirill Dmitriev, welcome di deal on social media, e say: "Russia-US co-operation on diesel and energy go benefit di world."

One tok-tok pesin for di UK govment say: "Di UK position no fit dey clearer. We go continue to work closely wit international partners to make sure say Ukraine get di military and financial support e need to defend imsef"

Dem add say di govment go continue to "maintain pressure on Russia through di toughest sanctions regime ever imposed by UK".

"Russia fit end dis war today. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as e go take and to work wit partners to bring about durable peace."

Russia bin don experience two waves of severe fuel shortage across di kontri sake of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.

According to di International Energy Agency, di diesel production dey estimated to have fallen by nearly 30%.

Trump express no happy ova di attacks, as e blame dem for rising fuel prices.

But Zelensky bin defend di strikes on Friday, e say din strikes na response to "Russia years-long campaign of terror against Ukraine energy sector".

"Ukraine no go set Russian oil refineries on fire if Russia bin no destroy our energy infrastructure," im tok

Trump Truth Social posts dey provide incomplete information evritime and di details of exactly how Russia dey supply dis fuel to di global market, and wetin dem fit get in return no dey clear.

But di announced deal represents remarkable about-face, as di US Congress recently pass legislation - wey di president sign - to authorise new American sanctions and tariffs on nations wey import Russian oil and gas.

Di agreement wit Russia go also opens Trump up to criticism from European allies and pro-Ukraine politicians for di US, say di American president dey help to fund Moscow war machine now.

Di impact wey di deal wit Russia go get on fuel prices no dey clear too. Di global benchmark for crude oil, Brent still remain above $103 per barrel. Bifor di war wit Iran, Brent crude bin dey trading for about $73 per barrel.

Wit di looming US midterm congressional elections - wey go determine if Republicans maintain control of Congress - Trump don dey searching for ways to ease di pain wey im political Republican party dey face.

Earlier dis week, im tok say im bin dey "think about" suspending di federal tax on gasoline and also announce say im go allow di use of so-called red dye diesel for US highways without facing federal tax.

Trump don also successfully pressure G7 nations into releasing 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from stockpiles to help ease supply concerns, and im bin don previously support calls for ban on diesel exports from di US.