US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to negotiate with Russia over diesel supplies, saying he prefers making deals to criticising foreign leaders.
“I have to make deals with people, so I don’t go around calling them names. I’m a dealmaker,” Trump said on October 13, responding to a question about Republican Senator Dan Sullivan’s criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and opposition to the agreement.
Sullivan has described Putin as a dictator and authoritarian leader, highlighting divisions within the Republican Party over Trump’s approach to Moscow.
Trump blamed former US President Joe Biden for the war in Ukraine, arguing that the conflict would never have started had he been in office. He also repeated his unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
The agreement, announced by Trump on October 9, provides for an initial shipment of more than 300,000 metric tonnes of Russian diesel, followed by further deliveries in the coming months.
The administration’s move to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports has drawn criticism from lawmakers who argue that it could weaken efforts to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.