President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his administration's recent moves toward Russia, including a plan to purchase millions of barrels of diesel fuel from the country and the lifting of sanctions, as criticism mounted from both Democrats and Republicans.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said he does not want to do anything that would «foolishly» drive Russia away from the bargaining table. «Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations!» he wrote. «Signing that document at this time will do that, and I can sign it later, or any time that I want!»
The president announced last week that the U.S. would buy millions of barrels of diesel from Russia in an effort to lower gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. The decision comes despite Russia's oil infrastructure having been weakened by repeated Ukrainian drone attacks. At the same time, Trump said he would lift sanctions on Russia that were included in a bill meant to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina.
Both moves have sparked outrage among lawmakers in both parties. Trump used his Sunday post to push back against the criticism, arguing that his approach is designed to keep Moscow engaged in diplomatic efforts. He also pointed to Russia's limited support for Iran, saying that «Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared to what they could be doing, and I want to keep it that way, and will, unless stupid people get in the way.»
In his post, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of targeting diesel refineries in Russia while knowing that such attacks hurt global diesel markets, including those in the United States. «Farmers, ranchers, and businesses of all kinds are suffering greatly from this, but Russia is, nevertheless, sending, at a low price, millions of barrels of diesel to the World,» Trump wrote.
The president went on to claim that Zelenskyy does not want to end the war and «probably never did.» He argued that Ukraine could have made a better deal two years ago and described the country as being «in shambles,» with a large portion of its land lost and its male population «low, wounded, and/or dead.» He concluded: «I WANT THIS WAR END.»
The remarks come as the administration faces scrutiny over its Russia policy, with critics arguing that purchasing Russian diesel and lifting sanctions could undermine efforts to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Supporters of the president's approach say it is aimed at stabilizing energy markets and advancing negotiations.
The bipartisan backlash highlights the political sensitivity of any move seen as accommodating Russia, particularly as gas prices remain a key concern for voters ahead of the midterms. The White House has not indicated when Trump might sign the sanctions relief document, which he said he could do «later, or any time that I want.»