Trump just lost his nerve and betrayed everything the US and Ukraine had accomplished vs Russia and Iran. He made a deal with Putin to import millions of barrels of Russian diesel through November. Out of his desire to win US elections, he has made an unprecedented betrayal of everything the USA has worked for and he had himself worked to accomplish.
Importing Russian diesel fuel undermines sanctions the US and allies in Europe and Asia – and Trump himself – imposed.
The US Congress, with bipartisan resolve , and allies, must rebuke him.
From my YouTube post: The title says it all. In this video, recorded 02 October 2026, published 09 October, I give detailed descriptions of the great gains the US (and Trump) have made vs. Russia but also especially vs. Iranian seizure of Hormuz.
The oil flows are reestablished now, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has lost control of Hormuz. However, diesel and other refined products flows are taking longer to get going. AND, Trump is obviously nervous he will badly lose the November mid-term US elections. So, to cut the burden of high fuel prices the American public has borne to win the Iran war, he has accepted a “deal from the devil” himself, Putin, for diesel imports – even ordering a lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel imports(!).
This also betrays the concerted Ukrainian missile and drone campaign to cripple Russia’s oil sector and especially its refineries so important to pursuing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Putin’s refineries are so damaged he cannot even likely supply the minor amounts he has offered to Trump, that Trump jumped to take, willing to betray everything he and his administration had so far accomplished vs Russia and Iran in the hope of winning votes in November.
Trump should forget Putin’s “fake deal” on diesel. My interview here, I believe, does a good job of describing the REAL advances the USA and its allies have made on the ground vs. Iran re. Hormuz and vs. Russia. Trump should not now sell his soul for a few million tons of Russian diesel.
Best, Tom O’Donnell — I am available for talks and consults for your civil society group, business/industry organization, executive consults, or commissioned analyses. Write: tomod.com(at)gmail.com
