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| FiLE PHOTO : Ukraine US flags |
US Hopes Russian Diesel Deal Will Help Restart Ukraine Peace Talks
WASHINGTON — October 13, 2026
The United States hopes a deal allowing Russian diesel exports to reach US and global markets will encourage Moscow to return to negotiations over the war in Ukraine. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented the agreement to Ukrainian officials as part of a broader effort to restart peace talks, according to people familiar with a meeting in Miami.
The discussions come as efforts to secure a lasting settlement remain stalled. The proposed energy arrangement has also increased tensions between Washington and Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials questioning whether offering economic benefits to Russia will persuade President Vladimir Putin to make meaningful concessions.
During Friday's meeting, Witkoff and Kushner reportedly told Ukrainian representatives that Putin was not ready to negotiate an end to the war. The US side argued that the diesel agreement could help reopen three-way discussions involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv.
One person familiar with the meeting said the agreement could help soften Russia's position by showing that President Donald Trump was willing to pursue practical cooperation with Moscow. A person close to the Kremlin also described the deal as a possible way to bring Russia back to negotiations.
Under the agreement announced last week, Russia is expected to supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to US and international markets. Trump has defended the arrangement as a way to reduce American energy costs, which have become a political concern for his Republican Party ahead of congressional midterm elections.
However, the agreement has drawn criticism from US lawmakers who argue that the resulting revenue could help Russia continue financing its war. Some energy experts have also questioned whether the additional supply would significantly reduce US fuel prices, noting that it represents less than a day's consumption by the country's transport sector.
The US delegation also renewed its request for Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, according to people familiar with the meeting. Trump has argued that Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities contribute to higher global fuel prices, although many experts point to the war involving Iran as the main driver of the recent increase.
The American approach appeared to be based on a possible exchange: Washington would offer Russia an economic incentive and seek an end to Ukrainian refinery attacks, then press Moscow to take steps toward peace. It remains unclear whether the strategy will produce any concrete concessions from the Kremlin.
Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, days after revealing the diesel agreement. However, neither side had confirmed the ceasefire, and Russia attacked energy targets inside Ukraine on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's proposal for a full 60-day truce.
The Russian Embassy in Washington and the Ukrainian presidential office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the discussions. One person familiar with the meeting said the diesel arrangement was only one part of a wider conversation about restarting negotiations. The discussions also covered security guarantees for Ukraine, although no further details were provided.
Doubts remain over whether Moscow is willing to accept a settlement. Trump has repeatedly said Putin wants to end the war, but Ukrainian and European officials have questioned whether Russia intends to stop its military campaign in the near future.
The position described by the US envoys suggests that views within the Trump administration may differ over Putin's readiness to negotiate. Previous US efforts to encourage Moscow, including possible sanctions relief and mineral agreements, have not persuaded Russia to accept a comprehensive ceasefire.
A person close to the Kremlin said Putin would return to negotiations only after securing the remaining 11% of the Donbas region, which he could present at home as a victory. Ukraine has rejected giving up additional territory but has indicated that freezing the conflict along the existing front lines could provide a basis for a peace agreement.
During the Miami meeting, Kushner and Witkoff also highlighted US military and intelligence support for Ukraine. People familiar with the discussions said the American envoys did not threaten to withdraw that assistance if Kyiv refused to stop its refinery attacks.
The meeting lasted several hours and included European officials, while representatives of the World Bank participated remotely. It followed visits by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv in September, after which Witkoff said the discussions had created fresh momentum for a possible new round of negotiations. The World Bank declined to comment.
Relations between Washington and Kyiv have come under additional strain since the diesel deal was announced. Zelenskiy criticised the agreement as a weak decision and a gift to Putin, while Trump said Ukraine's leader could have ended the war earlier and suggested that Ukraine needed a new president.
The Miami discussions also covered reconstruction funding and the need for Ukraine to formalise investment plans. Ukrainian officials left without making a formal commitment, but indicated they would consider an energy ceasefire if Russia agreed to the same terms.
For now, the diesel agreement remains part of a wider diplomatic effort rather than evidence of a breakthrough. Whether it can bring Moscow back to meaningful negotiations will depend on decisions by Russia and Ukraine that have yet to be confirmed.
