Donald Trump Makes a Fool of Himself – U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has certainly raised eyebrows in the past few days.
Since Friday, 9th October, Trump has announced a surprise deal to allow Russian diesel onto the U.S. and global markets; he has called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced, and he’s publicly demanded that Ukraine, currently fighting an unprovoked war within its own borders, stop striking oil refineries.
Su-34 Fullback. Creator: Vitaly V. Kuzmin. Credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Russian T-72 Tank Ukraine War. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The measures have done little to end a four-and-a-half-year conflict that the President promised to resolve in 24 hours of returning to the White House.
Diesel and Deals
Friday afternoon stunned many observers when President Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel.
Under the agreement, struck during a telephone call between the U.S. and Russian leaders, Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with another 500,000 tons available on Sunday, 1st November. Just over 1.75 million tons would be supplied in total.
Presumably, the measure was one to win over critics who argue that Trump has done little to address high diesel prices with just weeks to go until the midterm election. It’s had little effect, however, with prices remaining not far below last month’s record highs.
It’s a strange deal, honestly.
The U.S. transport sector alone uses about 2.94 million barrels of diesel a day, so the amount secured from Russia covers a little over four days’ supply.
Yet, it attracted major criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called the agreement a “gift” to Russia and “an investment in a war that must be ended.”
Energy Ceasefire Collapses
On Sunday, 11th October, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he added.
Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Russia and Ukraine over continued attacks on oil refineries in the face of a worldwide shortage of diesel which, in part, is fueled by the Iran war and Tehran’s ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Zelensky agreed to a ceasefire on energy facilities on the condition that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed to the same, but the two warring nations have continued to exchange strikes.
However, it appeared Moscow had not got the memo when, despite Ukraine refraining from a night of attacks on Russian energy, missiles and drones rained down on Ukrainian facilities. At least six sites were struck by Russia in the days after Trump’s Truth Social announcement.
Double Standards
Outside the White House on Saturday, Trump called for Ukraine to “get a new leader” after Zelensky criticized Washington’s diesel deal with Moscow. Trump said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” in response to Zelensky’s frustrations, accusing his Ukrainian counterpart of wanting “to make problems for the world” by continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries.
“He’d better **** well stop,” Trump said, arguing that Ukraine should “get a new leader who can make a deal.”
However, the President was less critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin when pressed on the reports that Russia had broken the energy ceasefire. “I’ll let you know about that,” Trump replied when asked by a reporter on Monday morning.
A Strange Few Days
It’s not unlike President Trump to change the direction of his frustrations in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It’s a revolving door, effectively, and right now the Ukrainian President is in his crosshairs. One can only assume that after weeks of continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, fresh sanctions will be applied to Russia as Trump grows frustrated with the Kremlin.
The decision-making is rather strange. The Russian diesel deal will do little to increase supply or lower prices, and the headline, spurred by Zelensky’s frustration, reads as if the U.S. is now supporting Russia’s war effort.
Calling for a wartime leader to be replaced sounds like off-the-cuff frustration over red lines the enemy also has, not a calculated call for new leadership.
And the energy ceasefire, which Ukraine seemingly knew little about, was broken by Russia within hours.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
