U.S. envoys tell Ukraine diesel deal with Russia aims to soften Kremlin for peace talks

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner informed Ukrainian officials that a U.S.-Russia diesel agreement, allowing Moscow to export over 2.25 million barrels, is intended to soften the Kremlin and revive peace negotiations. Washington has also urged Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian refineries. A Kremlin source stated that Putin will only engage in talks after securing the remaining 11% of Donbas territory.