OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Sunday about U.S. President Donald Trump’s new diesel fuel supply agreement with Russia.
The Prime Minister’s Office says the two leaders discussed the new agreement for Russia to supply millions of tonnes of diesel fuel to the United States, which Trump announced on Friday.
“The Prime Minister was clear: this agreement is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada, and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe,” a readout from the PMO explained. “It will provide additional revenue for Russia and help finance its illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine.”
The two leaders also talked about increasing coordination with allies to help Ukraine with its air defence needs.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” which appeared to be news to Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy said on social media that he would support a ceasefire but is awaiting details from the White House.
He also said Russia must back it up by ending its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which reportedly continued after Trump’s Truth Social Post.
“We support it, but I have not heard approval of this proposal from the Russian side,” Zelenskyy said from the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland on Monday. “This energy ceasefire can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war.”
Russia has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure in order to deny Ukrainians power and heat, especially in colder months. Ukraine has retaliated with strikes against Russian energy sites like oil refineries. Ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November, Trump has publicly blamed Ukraine for rising diesel prices, although experts say they are largely being pushed upwards by the effects of the Iran War.
“For Russia, of course, gasoline shortages and burning oil refineries – because of our strikes in response – are painful,” Zelenskyy said. “But if Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure. This is only fair.”
The prime minister also spoke with Trump on the energy ceasefire between Ukraine Russia on Sunday.
A readout from his office states that Carney thanked Trump for his efforts securing the ceasefire and reiterated Canada’s support for the agreement.
He also reiterated Zelenskyy’s call for Russia to uphold it.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
