Don’t fuel Putin’s war: reject Russian diesel

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) joins the Ukrainian American community and friends of Ukraine worldwide in condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to permit Russian diesel sales, providing a new economic lifeline to the Kremlin as Russia continues its war against Ukraine.

The decision undermines international efforts to isolate Russia, weakens sanctions, and provides new revenue to a regime responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory.

“The decision to allow Russian diesel back into international markets is more than an energy deal. It is a lifeline to a regime that continues to bomb cities, murder civilians, abduct children, wage a genocidal war against Ukraine, and conduct hybrid warfare against democratic nations,” said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress.

“Every dollar spent on Russian diesel helps finance missiles, drones, and attacks on Ukrainian homes, schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure. At a time when democratic nations should be increasing pressure on Russia, this decision does exactly the opposite. It rewards aggression, weakens sanctions, and undermines efforts to hold Russia accountable.”

The UWC is equally alarmed by renewed discussions regarding the resumption of Russian natural gas sales to Europe while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Europe’s past dependence on Russian energy generated hundreds of billions of dollars for the Kremlin, helping finance military aggression, political interference, and economic coercion.

The democratic world must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Russia is seeking through economic incentives what it has failed to achieve through military force: the normalization of relations with the international community despite its ongoing crimes and violations of international law.

The Ukrainian World Congress calls on governments, legislators, businesses, and citizens worldwide to:

• Reject efforts to normalize economic relations with Russia while its war continues.
• Oppose the resumption of Russian diesel, oil, and natural gas purchases.
• Maintain and strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation.
• Close loopholes that fund Russia’s war machine.
• Accelerate energy independence from authoritarian regimes.
• Hold Russia accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• Continue robust political, military, economic, and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

Russian diesel fuels Russia’s war machine. Russian gas finances Russian aggression. The free world must reject both. Do not reward war crimes. Do not finance aggression. Don’t Fuel Putin’s War. Reject Russian Diesel.