Symbolic imageMeloni warns on US-Russia diesel deal as Moscow negotiates supply contracts
Italian Prime Minister Meloni called the US-Russia diesel deal a "very risky choice" on Wednesday. Moscow says contracts with Washington are being negotiated.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at Russian Energy Week in Moscow on Wednesday, 14 October, that the Russian Energy Ministry and the US Department of Energy are negotiating contracts for Russian diesel. He argued that exports would raise refining volumes and budget revenue. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's special envoy for economic cooperation, said opponents, including Europeans, are trying to derail a deal that benefits all sides. He added that Europe itself bought $320 billion worth of Russian energy, a figure Novak had cited.
Criticism in Rome, Washington and London
According to the Financial Times, Meloni warned the plan would grant Russia "legitimacy" in its escalating campaign against Ukraine. Twelve US senators, including Republican Mitch McConnell, demanded on Tuesday that Trump rescind the deal, calling it a betrayal of Ukraine. The Financial Times also reports that British Prime Minister Burnham met Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Downing Street and wants to repair bridges between Trump and Kyiv.
Doubts over fuel prices
The New York Times writes that the deal will probably not lower diesel prices, which have soared because of the US war with Iran and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. It notes Trump recently signed legislation tightening energy sanctions on Russia.
Other opinions
Russian state agency TASS presents the deal as beneficial to all parties and blames opponents for obstruction, while Western outlets focus on allied objections and the conflict with sanctions policy.