Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is hitting back at critics of President Trump's new Russian diesel deal, singling out Europe for what he calls hypocrisy. He argued that Europeans have given the Russians more money since the war began than they have given Ukraine, and said it is completely hypocritical for them to claim America cannot have a respite in diesel pricing. The deal, announced by Trump on October 9 after a call with Vladimir Putin, would bring hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel to the US and world markets, with more promised in the coming months, while the Treasury eases sanctions on diesel deliveries into 2027. Trump has framed it as a way to bring down fuel costs for American farmers, ranchers and truckers, as high pump prices weigh on Republicans ahead of the midterms.

Bessent's argument has some support, but it needs context. A widely cited analysis found the EU spent more on Russian oil and gas in 2024 than it gave Ukraine in direct financial aid, though fact-checkers note that figure leaves out military support and does not cover the whole war. Europe has also been moving away from Russian energy, with Brussels targeting a full phase-out by 2027. Meanwhile, the deal has drawn sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and from Trump ally Lindsey Graham, who argue it eases pressure on Moscow right after the president signed a major Russia sanctions law, and Bessent himself had earlier ruled out this kind of easing. Whether prices actually fall as promised is still unproven, so for now this is a fight over both the numbers and the message.