Guest Post by Moon of Alabama
Last Friday U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal about the export of Russian diesel. Payments for Russian oil products had previously been under U.S. sanctions. Soon after Trump’s announcement the Treasury lifted those restrictions. Russian diesel to the U.S. and to global markets would lead to a decrease in prices at U.S. pumps.
Trump also announced an ‘energy ceasefire’ in Ukraine. Russia, which is hitting Ukrainian power stations and other energy facilities, was not informed of the move. Neither was Ukraine, which is trying to hit Russian refineries.
Trump specifically asked the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelinski to stop attacks on Russian refineries as Russian oil products are currently needed in the global markets.
Zelenski rejected Trump’s move and called him ‘weak’. A few hours later Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil export terminals at Rostov-on-Don.
As I commented:
Reports emerged over the weekend that Trump’s emissaries in talks with Ukraine had threatened to do so.
Despite his rejection of Trump’s demand Zelenski held back with firing at Russian energy installation for three days.
He used the time to travel to Britain to meet King Charles as well as the current Prime Minister. He also had phone talks with various other European leaders and pro-Ukraine politicians in Washington DC. They seem to have assured Zelenski of their support.
During the night of Wednesday to Thursday (Oct 13/14) Ukraine attacked Russian refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. In an interview with the Financial Times, published on Wednesday, Zelenski said that he would no longer abide by Trump’s demand.
Also on Wednesday Kiev came again under Russian fire. The last three thermal power plants in Kiev were rendered unusable.
Kiev claimed to have not received the usual warning of incoming strikes from U.S. intelligence. Suddenly Starshield, the Pentagon controlled military version of the Starlink satellite communication network, stopped to function for Ukrainian drones and missiles:
By Thursday morning Trump had NOT reprimanded Zelenski for not following his guidelines. The U.S. military said that its intelligence flow to Ukraine was continuing. Full star-shield functionality was, without comment, suddenly restored.
Trump had again chickened out.
The situation is similar to the one following the 2025 meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents in Anchorage. After that meeting Trump had demanded that Zelenski give up on some areas in Donbas in exchange for a peace agreement with Russia. Zelenski, with European support, pushed back. Trump did not press him but chickened out.
Trump, or his negotiators, have likely hoped that a stop of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries would open space for additional agreements. They however failed, like after Anchorage, to hold the Ukrainian’s feet to the fire.
Unless the U.S. is willing to use its instruments against Ukraine, by withholding intelligence and Starshield access, Kiev will not concede to anything the U.S. negotiates.
There is no point then for Russia to further negotiate with Washington over anything with regards to Ukraine.
President Trump is either unwilling or unable to use his power with regards to Ukraine.
In calling him ‘weak’ Zelenski was right.
Meanwhile Russia is purposefully delaying pre-midterm election diesel exports to the U.S.:
Continue reading...
[ H/T The Burning Platform ]
Last Friday U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal about the export of Russian diesel. Payments for Russian oil products had previously been under U.S. sanctions. Soon after Trump’s announcement the Treasury lifted those restrictions. Russian diesel to the U.S. and to global markets would lead to a decrease in prices at U.S. pumps.
Trump also announced an ‘energy ceasefire’ in Ukraine. Russia, which is hitting Ukrainian power stations and other energy facilities, was not informed of the move. Neither was Ukraine, which is trying to hit Russian refineries.
Trump specifically asked the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelinski to stop attacks on Russian refineries as Russian oil products are currently needed in the global markets.
Zelenski rejected Trump’s move and called him ‘weak’. A few hours later Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil export terminals at Rostov-on-Don.
As I commented:
Reports emerged over the weekend that Trump’s emissaries in talks with Ukraine had threatened to do so.
Despite his rejection of Trump’s demand Zelenski held back with firing at Russian energy installation for three days.
He used the time to travel to Britain to meet King Charles as well as the current Prime Minister. He also had phone talks with various other European leaders and pro-Ukraine politicians in Washington DC. They seem to have assured Zelenski of their support.
During the night of Wednesday to Thursday (Oct 13/14) Ukraine attacked Russian refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. In an interview with the Financial Times, published on Wednesday, Zelenski said that he would no longer abide by Trump’s demand.
Also on Wednesday Kiev came again under Russian fire. The last three thermal power plants in Kiev were rendered unusable.
Kiev claimed to have not received the usual warning of incoming strikes from U.S. intelligence. Suddenly Starshield, the Pentagon controlled military version of the Starlink satellite communication network, stopped to function for Ukrainian drones and missiles:
By Thursday morning Trump had NOT reprimanded Zelenski for not following his guidelines. The U.S. military said that its intelligence flow to Ukraine was continuing. Full star-shield functionality was, without comment, suddenly restored.
Trump had again chickened out.
The situation is similar to the one following the 2025 meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents in Anchorage. After that meeting Trump had demanded that Zelenski give up on some areas in Donbas in exchange for a peace agreement with Russia. Zelenski, with European support, pushed back. Trump did not press him but chickened out.
Trump, or his negotiators, have likely hoped that a stop of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries would open space for additional agreements. They however failed, like after Anchorage, to hold the Ukrainian’s feet to the fire.
Unless the U.S. is willing to use its instruments against Ukraine, by withholding intelligence and Starshield access, Kiev will not concede to anything the U.S. negotiates.
There is no point then for Russia to further negotiate with Washington over anything with regards to Ukraine.
President Trump is either unwilling or unable to use his power with regards to Ukraine.
In calling him ‘weak’ Zelenski was right.
Meanwhile Russia is purposefully delaying pre-midterm election diesel exports to the U.S.:
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Continue reading...
[ H/T The Burning Platform ]
