Russia said Monday that it has sold $320 billion worth of fuel to European countries since 2022, despite Western sanctions imposed over the war.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the energy sector, said in televised remarks: “For the period from 2022 until today, the figure has reached $320.7 billion.”
He added: “This represents the volume of energy resource supplies to European Union countries.”
Europe Condemns “Diesel Deal”
The remarks came after the European Union condemned a diesel supply agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that easing sanctions would provide Moscow with additional revenues to finance its war in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement: “Russian strikes have killed more than 80 Ukrainian civilians within two days. In addition, Russia has intensified its hybrid attacks against Europe, particularly against EU member states and NATO allies.”
She warned that suspending sanctions on Russian diesel shipments would give Moscow “more revenues to wage the war.”
“This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe will not do so,” she added.
Trump announced the agreement, under which Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tonnes of diesel, following a phone call with Putin on Friday.
Trump said the United States would import diesel fuel from Russia, easing years of continued US pressure on Moscow to curb prices ahead of the midterm elections.
Following his talks with Putin, the US president wrote: “Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the US and global markets, with another 500,000 tonnes to be delivered during November.”
Pressure From Congress
Trump’s announcement allowing global purchases of Russian diesel surprised lawmakers, particularly because it came after Congress overwhelmingly approved legislation that Trump himself signed into law last month, imposing tough sanctions on countries purchasing Russian energy that finances the war against Ukraine.
US senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties on Sunday urged Trump to “reverse” the diesel supply deal with Russia, saying it conflicts with US law banning imports of Russian energy until Moscow ends its war in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, seven senators, including four Republicans from Trump’s party and three Democrats, said in a statement: “Congress explicitly banned imports of Russian energy in 2022 to prevent the use of US dollars to finance the brutal war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine.”
They added that the administration had neither consulted Congress nor provided an explanation for its decision, which is also required under the law.
The latest criticism marks a new bipartisan challenge to Trump’s deal, breaking from the near-unanimous support his foreign policy decisions have received from Republicans, just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.
Source: Sky News
