Italy’s Meloni warns Trump-Putin diesel deal risks weakening sanctions and financing Russia’s war in Ukraine

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has sharply criticised an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing Russian diesel supplies to return to international markets, warning that the move could undermine Western sanctions and provide Moscow with additional revenue to finance its war against Ukraine.

Speaking in Italy’s parliament on October 14 ahead of a European Union leaders’ summit, Meloni described the agreement as a highly risky decision that could weaken international pressure on the Kremlin, according to Euronews.

“The agreement on Russian diesel announced by US President Donald Trump last Friday is, in my view, a very risky decision,” Meloni said.

The Italian prime minister argued that rising fuel prices were primarily linked to the war in Iran rather than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, questioning the economic justification for easing restrictions on Russian energy exports.

She warned that reopening access to international energy markets could strengthen Moscow financially while Russian forces continue to launch attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

Meloni said legitimising Moscow while Russian bombs continue to fall on Ukrainian cities, generating additional revenue for the war and indirectly weakening sanctions were risks that could not be ignored.

She also suggested that the agreement contradicted previous Western efforts, including those undertaken by the United States, to increase economic pressure on Putin and bring Russia to meaningful peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy thanks Meloni for her stance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Meloni’s remarks and thanked the Italian leader for what he described as her principled position and continued support for Ukraine.

“I thank Giorgia Meloni for her support and for her clear, unequivocal and principled position,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

He also expressed appreciation for her understanding of Russia’s role as the aggressor and the conditions necessary to achieve a just and lasting peace.

According to Zelenskyy, sustainable peace can only be achieved through strength and coordinated international efforts to ensure collective security.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged its Western partners to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia, arguing that energy export revenues remain a significant source of funding for Moscow’s military operations.

Moscow dismisses criticism

Meloni’s comments prompted a response from Russian officials.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the Italian prime minister’s criticism, saying the matter was not her concern.

Meanwhile, Kremlin special representative Kirill Dmitriev suggested that the diesel agreement could pave the way for broader economic cooperation between Russia and the United States.

According to Reuters, the arrangement would allow more than 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to enter US and international markets.

The Trump administration has defended the decision as part of efforts to contain rising fuel prices amid instability in global energy markets.

However, Ukraine and some European allies have expressed concern that easing restrictions on Russian fuel exports could provide the Kremlin with additional financial resources and reduce the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Italy reaffirms support for Ukraine

Meloni also reiterated that Italy’s position on supporting Ukraine remained unchanged.

She called on the European Union to maintain a united diplomatic approach to ending Russia’s war, warning that divisions among European countries could be exploited by Moscow.

The prime minister stressed the importance of ensuring that all 27 EU member states were represented in discussions concerning Europe’s security and the future of Ukraine.

Her remarks highlight growing concerns among some European leaders over the potential consequences of renewed US-Russian economic engagement while the war in Ukraine continues.

The diesel agreement has emerged as another point of tension between Washington and its European partners, raising questions about the future of coordinated Western sanctions and efforts to pressure Moscow into ending the conflict.