A former NATO commander warned Sunday that President Donald Trump’s push for a diesel agreement with Russia risks providing President Vladimir Putin with fresh revenue to sustain his invasion of Ukraine, while granting Moscow diplomatic cover through negotiations it has little intention of honoring.
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 Kyiv’s war effort by striking a deal with what he termed “the enemy.”
“And so we are cutting a deal with the enemy,” Breedlove said, cautioning that “all of this money will go into fueling Mr. Putin’s continued attacks in Ukraine.”
The Russian government announced Saturday it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports with immediate effect, following a new agreement between Putin and Trump for Russia to supply U.S. and global markets, according to Reuters.
Trump’s framework reportedly calls for the release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel “to the American and global marketplace,” followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and an additional 1 million tonnes afterward.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The diesel arrangement preceded Trump’s Sunday announcement of what he called an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, with the president stating both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, indicated that Kyiv had not been informed of a finalized ceasefire agreement but expressed willingness to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow reciprocated. He also accused Putin of repeatedly rejecting peace proposals while continuing strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid.
“Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory 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.
Zelenskyy 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. He reported the attacks had killed more than 150 people and wounded over 700 in the same period.
Trump’s “energy ceasefire” declaration followed friction between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, a key component of Kyiv’s strategy to degrade Moscow’s ability to finance its military campaign.
A view of Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of the Kremlin. (Reuters/Tom Szlukovenyi | Photo by Contributor/Getty Images | Fox News Digital)
Breedlove argued that Moscow and Kyiv are pursuing fundamentally different objectives, accusing Russia of targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure while characterizing Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy facilities as an effort to disrupt the revenue sustaining Putin’s war.
“Russia is carrying on a campaign of what we call counter value. 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.
Breedlove also predicted Washington would pressure Zelenskyy to suspend attacks on Russia’s oil industry despite their strategic value.
“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.
Overnight, Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war started as fires burned in Kyiv on May 25, 2025. (Reuters/Gleb Garanich)
Trump has vehemently criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, arguing they disrupt global diesel supplies and drive up costs for American farmers and ranchers.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s efforts to boost diesel supplies. “We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have,” Bessent said Sunday on Fox News. “This is good for the American people, bringing these diesel prices down,” he said of the new deal.
Separately, appearing on ABC News’ “This Week,” Zelenskyy offered to organize Ukrainian elections if Putin agreed to a reciprocal 60-day ceasefire, though holding a vote would face significant legal and logistical hurdles under martial law.
Breedlove expressed deep skepticism that Putin would honor any such ceasefire, citing a pattern of Russian attacks following negotiations with Trump. “Russia has never kept a promise to this president in this war,” Breedlove said.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Aug. 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Getty Images/ Andrew Harnik)
“He’s never changed his expectations, and he’s never delivered on his 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.
Breedlove called for a tougher U.S. posture. “We now need an administration that leads from 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.
“He started this war. This war is to benefit Russia, and this war is to keep Mr. Putin in power. And our administration needs to tell him to stop.”
