President Donald Trump's efforts to reach a diesel agreement with Russia could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with fresh revenue to fund his war against Ukraine while allowing Moscow to buy time through negotiations it has little intention of honoring, a former NATO commander warned Sunday.
uncertain
commander → reach → intention
Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and head of U.S. European Command, told Fox News Digital that Washington also risks undermining Ukraine's war effort by striking a deal with what he called "the enemy."
"And so we are cutting a deal with the enemy," Breedlove said, warning that "all of this money will go into fueling Mr. Putin's continued attacks in Ukraine.
asserted
all → tell → Ukraine
The Russian government said Saturday it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports with immediate effect, following the new agreement between Putin and Trump for Russia to supply the U.S. and global markets, Reuters reported.
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Reuters → say → U.S.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Trump's package calls for the release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel "to the American and global marketplace," followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes afterward.
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package → report → November
The diesel agreement preceded Trump's announcement Sunday of what he called an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, with the president saying both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
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sides → precede → infrastructure
Both parties have agreed.
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parties → agree → ?
Do not break it!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Trump → break → Social
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, indicated that Ukraine had not been informed of a finalized ceasefire agreement but expressed willingness to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow reciprocated.
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Moscow → indicate → facilities
He also accused Putin of repeatedly rejecting peace proposals and continuing strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
asserted
He → accuse → infrastructure
"Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps.
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Ukraine → propose → steps
Putin had one answer to all of them – 'nyet,'" Zelenskyy wrote on X.
"We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace," he added.
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he → have → peace
Zelenskyy also said Russian forces had carried out more than 200 strikes on Ukraine's electricity generation and transmission facilities over the past week, along with 17 strikes targeting gas and oil infrastructure.
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forces → say → infrastructure
He said the attacks had killed more than 150 people and wounded more than 700 over the past week.
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attacks → say → week
Trump's "energy ceasefire" announcement followed tension between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, a component of Ukraine's strategy to weaken Moscow's ability to finance its military campaign.
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announcement → follow → campaign
Breedlove argued that Russia and Ukraine are pursuing different objectives, accusing Moscow of targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure while describing Kyiv's attacks on Russian energy facilities as an effort to disrupt the revenue sustaining Putin's war.
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Russia → argue → war
"Russia is carrying on a campaign of what we call counter value.
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we → carry → what
In other words, Russia is attacking the Ukrainian people and trying to force their society to separate themselves from their president, President Zelenskyy," Breedlove said.
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Breedlove → attack → president
Breedlove also predicted Washington would pressure Zelenskyy to suspend attacks on Russia's oil industry despite their strategic importance.
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Washington → predict → importance
"What I expect will happen is the United States will force or try to force Zelenskyy to stop bombing the petrochemical business in Russia," he said.
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he → expect → Russia
Trump has vehemently criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that they are disrupting global diesel supplies and driving up costs for American farmers and ranchers.
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they → criticize → farmers
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's efforts to increase diesel supplies.
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Bessent → defend → supplies
"We're going to do it with all the legal authorities we have," Bessent said Sunday on Fox News.
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Bessent → go → News
"This is good for the American people, bringing these diesel prices down," he said of the new deal.
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he → bring → deal
Separately, appearing on ABC News' "This Week," Zelenskyy offered to organize Ukrainian elections if Putin agreed to a reciprocal 60-day ceasefire, although holding a vote would face legal and logistical obstacles under Ukraine's martial law.
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holding → appear → law
Breedlove also expressed deep skepticism that Putin would honor any such ceasefire, citing what he described as a pattern of Russian attacks following negotiations with Trump.
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he → express → Trump
"Russia has never kept a promise to this president in this war," Breedlove said.
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Breedlove → keep → war
"He's never changed his expectations, and he's never delivered on his promises.
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he → change → promises
Three out of four of the big cases, the very next day or that same night after the president and Mr. Putin talked, Mr. Putin launched huge attacks in Ukraine," Breedlove continued.
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Breedlove → talk → Ukraine
Breedlove also called for a tougher U.S. response.
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Breedlove → call → response
"We now need an administration that leads from power.
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that → need → power
We say all the time, 'strength through power,' but when it comes to Russia, our demonstrated position is continued conflict through weakness," Breedlove warned.
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Breedlove → say → weakness
"He started this war.
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He → start → war
This war is to benefit Russia, and this war is to keep Mr. Putin in power.
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war → benefit → power
And our administration needs to tell him to stop."
asserted
administration → need → him
The Aporia
