Photo/Illutration U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a news conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Reuters/Jeenah Moon/File Photo)

Relaxing sanctions against an invading nation for the sake of an election in one’s own nation is an extremely self-centered act that could damage the collective efforts of the international community.

U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russia to provide its diesel fuel to the global market.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a ban had been placed on Russian petroleum products. Pressure was also applied by imposing transport sanctions as well as placing an upper limit on the price of exports by Russia to third nations.

But the U.S. Treasury Department will allow an exemption until next spring on the import and sales of Russian diesel fuel.

While sanctions will remain in place for other petroleum products and the defense industry, exports of diesel fuel will provide Russia with new revenues to allow it to continue its invasion of Ukraine. 

With U.S. mid-term elections scheduled for early November, Trump focused on diesel fuel out of concerns about dissatisfaction at the surge in prices from his support base of farmers and the trucking industry.

In a social media post after the agreement was reached, Trump stressed that diesel fuel prices would plummet at a record pace.

He even told reporters that he wanted to thank Putin.

The United States relaxed the sanctions without consulting Ukraine and despite not being able to gain any concessions from Putin about a cease-fire.

That should never have happened.

The goal of the sanctions imposed by the international community was to demonstrate that any invasion would come at a high cost and to push Russia toward a cease-fire.

The wrong signal would be sent to Russia if the collective pressure was weakened.

Members of the U.S. Congress from both sides of the aisle complained the move provides Putin with a money lifeline.

It is only natural that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the latest agreement.

But Trump turned around and criticized Ukraine for bombing Russian oil refineries and said the nation needed a new president.

Trump also unilaterally said an energy cease-fire had been reached by Ukraine and Russia, to which Zelenskyy said that was the first that he heard about it.

Russia has also ignored the statement and the two nations continue with their attacks.

Trump is blatantly getting way ahead of himself.

The main factor behind the surge in fuel prices is the confusion in the Middle East triggered by the U.S.-led attack on Iran.

We cannot ignore the attempt to place the blame on Ukraine for the higher prices.

Trump also signed a presidential order exempting additional tariffs on nations that import Russian petroleum and gas that was based on a Russian sanctions law that passed Congress in September.

That clearly showed he was taking a reconciliatory stance toward Russia.

The response by the international community toward the Russian invasion should not be shaken due to Trump seeking short-term political benefits.

There is a need for Japan and Europe to maintain solidarity so the effects of the sanctions are not damaged.

That, in turn, will lead to protecting the international order and the rule by law.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 18

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