Diesel and De-escalation Deals

Uncle Sam and Mother Russia shook hands on a diesel deal Friday.

In a Truth Social post, President Trump announced Russia had agreed to export 4.8M tons of diesel “to the American and global marketplace” in an effort to lower near-record prices (see how diesel prices have increased this year). Minutes later, the U.S. Treasury announced it would waive long-held sanctions on Russian diesel to unstopper the fuel.

The deal, which Trump said would “especially” benefit “farmers, ranchers, and truckers,” was met with bipartisan criticism. GOP lawmakers said lifting sanctions would “only fund the Kremlin’s war machine,” while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said, “gifts to Putin will not bring peace.”

Then, yesterday, Trump announced a Russia-Ukraine “energy ceasefire” without sharing details. Moscow hadn’t confirmed it, but Zelenskyy said Ukraine is “ready to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure” if Russia is.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work towards helpful and peaceful resolutions, while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government.

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (CSB) (read full passage)