Trump envoys told Ukraine Putin was not ready for peace talks, offered diesel deal as incentive - Reuters
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Ukrainian officials that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared to negotiate an end to the war, but argued that a deal allowing Russian diesel exports could help bring Moscow back to the negotiating table, Reuters reported on October 12, citing people familiar with the discussions.
During an October 9 meeting in Miami, Witkoff and Kushner presented the diesel agreement as part of a broader US effort to restart negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
One source said the deal was intended to "soften" Moscow's position by signaling that President Donald Trump was willing to cooperate with Russia.
The agreement allows Russia to supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to US and global markets.
The American envoys also reiterated Trump's request that Ukraine stop striking Russian oil refineries. According to one source, Washington hoped to use both steps to persuade Moscow to make concessions.
Ukrainian officials were skeptical of the approach, viewing it as an attempt to appease Russia through business deals, Reuters reported.
The envoys' reported assessment that Putin was not ready to negotiate contrasts with Trump's public statements that the Russian leader wants to reach a settlement.
A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin would return to negotiations only if Russia gained control of the remaining 11% of Donbas. Ukraine has rejected surrendering additional territory but has indicated that freezing the conflict along the existing front lines could provide a basis for an agreement.
The Ukrainian delegation left the Miami meeting without making formal commitments, although it signaled openness to a reciprocal energy ceasefire.
Reuters also reported that the US envoys did not threaten to suspend military or intelligence assistance if Ukraine refused to halt strikes on Russian refineries, according to three people familiar with the meeting.
Trump subsequently announced an energy ceasefire, but neither Ukraine nor Russia publicly confirmed a mutually agreed arrangement. Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities, while the Kremlin rejected a proposed 60-day truce.