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Trump's Russian diesel deal draws calls to ditch it as Burnham hosts Zelenskyy at Downing Street

87 articles from 11 sources
First reported on Friday 9 October 2026 at 15:02 EDT by Sky News·Latest article on Friday 16 October 2026 at 16:40 EDT

Summary

Donald Trump announced on 9 October a deal with Vladimir Putin to release Russian diesel, saying Russia would immediately supply '300,000 tons of diesel', according to Sky News, and Zelenskyy called the deal a 'gift to Putin', according to The Independent. On 11 October, Trump claimed in a social media post that gave no details that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an 'energy ceasefire', according to The Guardian, and the Prime Minister said the UK backs it, but Russia attacked multiple power plants after the claim, The Guardian reported. On 13 October, Trump accused Europe of hypocrisy and insisted the energy ceasefire still holds, and a group of senators warned that lifting sanctions is 'a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies', The Independent reported. On 14 October, Andy Burnham received Zelenskyy at No 10 and said the UK's support for Ukraine 'will not change', the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, and Meloni warned the deal would grant Russia 'legitimacy', according to the Financial Times. The Evening Standard and The Independent reported on 15 October that the UK will 'make case' for the US to continue backing Ukraine amid strained relations and that Andy Burnham avoided saying Trump had betrayed Ukraine over Starlink limits, and on 16 October that Trump declined to blame Putin for the Ukraine war amid transatlantic tensions, while Britain and most other Nato members have been clear in putting the fault on the Russian leader.

Latest: Trump declined to blame Putin for the Ukraine war amid transatlantic tensions, while Britain and most other Nato members have been clear in putting the fault on the Russian leader, who launched the 2022 invasion, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.

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How it unfolded

  1. Friday 16 October

    Trump declined to blame Putin for the Ukraine war amid transatlantic tensions, while Britain and most other Nato members have been clear in putting the fault on the Russian leader, who launched the 2022 invasion, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.

  2. Thursday 15 October

    The UK will 'make case' for the US to continue backing Ukraine amid strained relations, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, the Evening Standard saying relations between Ukraine and the US have deteriorated over the past week, Zelenskyy said Moscow had failed to observe Trump's demand for an 'energy ceasefire', according to The Independent, and Andy Burnham avoided saying Trump had betrayed Ukraine over Starlink limits, insisting the UK would continue to build bridges with the US president.

  3. Wednesday 14 October

    Andy Burnham, who told MPs of hoping to 'repair bridges' between Trump and Zelenskyy, received Zelenskyy at No 10 with an unprecedented honour guard and said the UK's support for Ukraine 'will not change', while Zelenskyy thanked the King for 'unwavering support' at Buckingham Palace and Meloni warned the diesel deal would grant Russia 'legitimacy', according to the Financial Times.

  4. Tuesday 13 October

    Trump accused Europe of hypocrisy over the diesel deal and insisted the energy ceasefire still holds, a group of senators warned that lifting sanctions to let Moscow sell the fuel is 'a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies', and Andy Burnham will welcome Zelenskyy to Downing Street on Wednesday in a public show of support.

  5. Monday 12 October

    The Guardian reported that Russia attacked multiple power plants after Trump's energy ceasefire claim, which Moscow had yet to confirm, and that Zelenskyy said Ukrainian skies were filled with Russian drones after the claim, as six were killed in strikes.

  6. Sunday 11 October

    Trump said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an 'energy ceasefire', giving no details according to The Guardian, Zelenskyy said it was 'news for me' and called the announcement 'good news for everyone', the Prime Minister said the UK backs the energy ceasefire, and according to Sky News, Zelenskyy accused Russia of striking a Ukrainian power plant and energy facilities after the claim.

  7. Saturday 10 October

    Zelenskyy called the diesel deal a 'gift to Putin' and Trump said it was 'time for Ukraine to get new president', as the UK pledged to maintain pressure on Russia with the 'toughest sanctions regime ever'.

  8. Friday 9 October

    Trump announced a deal with Putin to release Russian diesel, saying Russia would immediately supply '300,000 tons of diesel', and a UK Government spokesperson said Britain's position 'could not be clearer'.

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