"A shot in the foot": political scientist explains how Trump helped Putin

Political scientist Vladimir Gorbach, in an article for UNIAN, analyzes the agreement between Trump and Putin on the supply of Russian diesel to the global market. He argues that the actual scale of supplies is modest, and the main concession is a license from the US Treasury allowing trade in Russian diesel until April 2027, which he calls an "indulgence" for Putin.

Political scientist Vladimir Gorbach, in an op-ed for the Ukrainian outlet UNIAN, analyzes the agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the global market. Gorbach argues that the actual scale of supplies is much more modest than headlines might suggest. The first batch of 300,000 tons is about 2.2 million barrels, which accounts for only 6-7 hours of global seaborne diesel trade. Even the entire upcoming supply (300,000 + 500,000 + 1 million tons) would cover the current deficit for only about a week. The key concession, according to the political scientist, is not so much the volume of fuel, but a license from the US Treasury Department allowing trade in Russian diesel until April 7, 2027. Gorbach calls this license an "indulgence" for Russia's actions in Ukraine and "Trump's concession to friend Vladimir." He also notes that the conversation took place before US representatives' talks with the Ukrainian delegation, and the Ukrainian side was merely informed of the result. The political scientist questions the political benefit for Trump, calling the deal "a shot in the foot."