Russia would 'supply oil' to US, world markets: Putin

MOSCOW, Oct 10: Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was ready to "supply oil" to the US and world markets during his phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday, the Kremlin said.

Trump announced earlier that the Russian leader had agreed to release diesel fuel to the US and world markets.
"The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and world markets," the Kremlin said in its account of the talks between the leaders.

Russian deputy prime minister in charge of energy Alexander Novak said Moscow was ready to supply the American market with 300,000 tons of diesel from October, 500,000 tons in November and one million tons in December, matching the terms outlined earlier by Trump.

"In the long run, this volume could reach three million tons per month," he told Russian news agencies.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky immediately slammed the offer.

"It is certainly not honest, it is certainly unworthy of our partners, and it is, in my view, a weak decision," he told reporters.

He said this would mean "extra money for the Russian war" against Ukraine, adding that "it only fuels Putin and gives him the opportunity to wage an even more intense war."

He said the Ukrainian team meeting with Trump's envoys in Florida on Friday and Saturday had "simply served as a front" for this agreement with Moscow.

According to the Kremlin, Putin and Trump also discussed the "settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the situation surrounding Iran, as well as various aspects of bilateral relations", during their call.

Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky has condemned Donald Trump's announcement of a deal to import Russian diesel into the US.

Zelensky called it a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin that amounts to "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged", a position quickly backed by Ukraine's European allies.�" AFP