Petr Pavel says that Russia and Ukraine were close to a ceasefire, but Trump’s agreement on diesel fuel reduced pressure on Moscow

Czech President Petr Pavel stated that Russia and Ukraine had been “quite close” to a ceasefire, but the easing of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump at the beginning of this month, reduced pressure on Moscow and complicated the negotiations.

In an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which also includes Politico, Pavel said that sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe on Russian oil, oligarchs, and other economic sectors were beginning to affect Russia. According to the Czech president, the agreement under which Moscow was to supply the United States with hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel gave Russia “a breathing spell.”

Pavel warned that Moscow was using this period to escape pressure and regain confidence. The White House argued that Donald Trump had negotiated the agreement to secure large quantities of diesel fuel on the global market and reduce prices.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the deal, stating that it serves Russia’s interests and allows it to continue the war.

The Czech leader said that he did not consider the agreement a betrayal for the time being, but rather “a mistake,” as it could encourage Moscow to ignore Europe and Ukraine. He specified that normal trade relations with Russia could resume only after that country respects the sovereignty and borders of other states.