Ukraine peace talks stall after Trump–Putin diesel deal, NYT reports

Efforts to restart negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine have stalled after US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on supplies of Russian diesel to the United States, the New York Times reported, as relayed by the Ukrainian outlet LB.ua on 10 October. The deal has drawn criticism from Latvia, Estonia's prime minister and a former US envoy for Ukraine.

The terms of the diesel arrangement were not detailed in the sources available to RealUA. This article does not cite volumes, prices or timelines.

What the NYT reported

According to the New York Times, a Ukrainian delegation met US administration envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Miami. The talks ended without a breakthrough. The sources do not give the date of the meeting or describe the envoys' roles, and RealUA could not consult the NYT original.

The Kremlin said it has not yet decided when it will resume the negotiation process, according to the report.

The newspaper also wrote that Moscow offered no concessions in return for the easing of restrictions on Russian fuel.

Earlier, the NYT said, Washington had considered economic incentives for Russia in exchange for a partial ceasefire. The options it had considered were:

• unblocking frozen Russian assets;
• selling part of Lukoil's assets;
• restarting exports of Belarusian potash fertiliser.

These were ideas under consideration, not agreed policy. Ukraine did not reject them, the NYT reported, but insisted on guarantees. It wanted either mirror payments to Kyiv or additional military aid.

Reactions from Latvia and Estonia

Latvia's Foreign Ministry said the Trump–Putin diesel agreement "sends a contradictory signal". It said Latvia, like the whole European Union, has not changed its view that full support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are the most effective path to a lasting and just peace. The ministry called sanctions an effective tool for limiting Russia's ability to wage aggression.

The ministry added that EU foreign ministers are expected to meet on 12 October. They plan to approve additional sanctions against Russia.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal criticised deals to supply Russian fuel to world markets. "Deals with dictators are the road to hell," he said, according to LB.ua. The quotes reached RealUA in Ukrainian translation, so the wording may differ slightly from his original English or Estonian text.

Michal said Russia uses revenue from energy sales to kill innocent people. He wrote on Facebook that "the long-term policy of depriving Russia of money is correct and must be continued."

He also proposed discussing more support for Ukraine so that it can destroy Russian oil refineries. He said the issue should be raised next week in Estonia and at the European Council, the EU body that brings together the bloc's leaders.

Kellogg: a possible bid to shield refineries

Keith Kellogg, a former US special envoy for Ukraine, commented on the deal on Fox News. He no longer holds that post and does not speak for the current administration.

Kellogg suggested the diesel arrangement could be an attempt by Putin to protect Russian refineries from Ukrainian attacks. He said Ukraine mainly targets Russia's military-industrial complex, while Russia hits Ukrainian schools and churches.

"They will continue to attack, as they should. This is war. You are attacking correctly," he said, according to LB.ua's translation. That is Kellogg's personal assessment. It is not US policy.

Context

The dispute over Russian fuel comes as the question of strikes on energy infrastructure is already part of diplomacy. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would halt refinery strikes if Russia stops hitting its energy grid. He also said Kyiv supports an energy ceasefire announced by Trump, whose terms have not been made public.

Trump has separately said that Ukraine should pick a new leader, a remark Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected.

Neither the White House nor the Kremlin comments are included in the sources beyond the Kremlin's statement on timing. The EU foreign ministers' meeting and the European Council discussion are the next points where allies may address the sanctions and refinery questions.