Trump Cuts Desperate Deal With Putin to Save MAGA's Skin

Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images President Donald Trump has turned to Russian President Vladimir Putin to save him as he faces widespread frustration over soaring energy costs ahead of the midterms.

In a surprise announcement Friday, the 80-year-old president made no mention of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine while revealing his deal with the Kremlin for diesel— his solution, apparently, to skyrocketing diesel prices caused by his war in Iran.

“I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump had hinted about the arrangement during his appearance Friday afternoon, where he claimed he had a “big announcement coming up on diesel.” In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Additionally, based on the condition of their Diesel Refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel.” “Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!” Trump continued.

The average cost of diesel was $6.27 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA, just slightly down from the record high set last month at $6.52 a gallon.

The average price of diesel one year ago was just $3.67 by comparison.

Russia had been facing wide-ranging sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but on Friday, the Treasury Department also scrambled to lift sanctions to help make Trump’s plan a reality.

In a document posted on Friday, the Treasury wrote that the “sale, delivery, offloading, or importation, including importation into the United States, of diesel fuel of Russian Federation origin” would be authorized through April 7, 2027.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted the move on Friday in a lengthy post.

Peace never comes through weakness.

Today, representatives of the U.S.

Congress were in Kyiv – a bipartisan delegation – and I am grateful to them for visiting Ukraine at such a difficult time.

They asked: what is needed to end the war? The answer must be strong.

There must be… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 9, 2026 “Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness,” he wrote.