On Friday, Putin and Trump held a 90-minute telephone conversation. According to the Kremlin, the two leaders primarily discussed the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, global energy dynamics, bilateral relations, and the situation surrounding Iran. Putin emphasized that the prospects for resolving the crisis in Ukraine were central to the discussion. On the same day, Trump’s envoys, Witkoff and Kushner, were scheduled to meet with Ukrainian representatives in Miami to advance a new round of U.S.-led negotiations.
Kremlin aide Ushakov stated that Putin briefed Trump on Russia’s response to recent attacks on Kyiv. Moscow stressed that Ukrainian air strikes had not altered the military situation on the ground, and that Russian forces continued to maintain the initiative and advance. Ushakov also noted that the attacks on polling stations and civilian infrastructure had disrupted plans to resume tripartite talks ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Moscow now intends to reassess when to restart diplomatic engagement. Trump pledged to relay Russia’s position to the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.
On energy, Putin expressed willingness to cooperate with Washington, stating that Russia was prepared to supply oil and petroleum products to both the United States and global markets, which he viewed as beneficial to the global economy. Trump declared the call “very successful,” citing an agreement: Moscow would supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets immediately, helping to lower fuel prices—particularly benefiting American farmers, ranchers, and truck drivers. Subsequently, the U.S. Treasury announced a temporary suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel exports to global markets.
The context is growing disruption to oil transport and refining caused by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, leading to tight global diesel supplies and elevated prices. Since February, when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran, U.S. diesel prices have risen by approximately 70%, reaching historic highs. Russia is among the world’s largest diesel exporters, but export restrictions have been in place over recent months due to drone attacks on refineries; these restrictions are set to expire at the end of October. It remains unclear whether the agreement between Putin and Trump will affect those existing limitations.
The core of this call was not about friendship, but mutual calculation. U.S. diesel prices have surged, placing significant strain on farmers, truck drivers, and consumers, prompting Trump to seek tangible results quickly. Meanwhile, Russia, facing ongoing sanctions and damage to its refining infrastructure, seeks export revenues and aims to leverage energy concessions for greater diplomatic room. As a result, the Ukraine issue, diesel supply, and sanctions relief were bundled into a single transactional arrangement.
In the short term, the return of Russian diesel to global markets could ease price pressures and alleviate fuel shortages, offering direct benefits to U.S. households. Yet the controversy is evident: does temporarily lifting sanctions amount to a de facto easing of pressure on Russia? Could it provide additional financial resources to Moscow? These questions are likely to spark debate within the United States and among its allies.
More critically, the Ukraine conflict has not moved closer to resolution. Russia maintains control of the battlefield and blames Ukraine for undermining negotiations through targeted attacks. Kyiv and Western partners clearly reject Russia’s unilateral narrative. The Miami meeting indicates continued U.S. mediation efforts, but whether and when Russia will rejoin tripartite talks remain uncertain.
Thus, this interaction appears more like transactional diplomacy: addressing immediate concerns under energy and electoral pressures, while deferring complex issues for later. It may yield modest downward pressure on fuel prices, but is unlikely to deliver lasting peace. Future developments will depend on whether diesel deliveries materialize at scale, how long the sanctions relief lasts, whether attacks on refineries continue, and whether negotiations can be revived. Should any of these variables deteriorate, today’s apparent success may prove to be only a brief respite.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1878616256726092/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.