KYIV, October 10: At least seven people, including three children, were killed in Russian airstrikes in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, officials said on Saturday, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase diesel from Russia.
According to Mykhailo Semikin, head of the regional military administration, Russian aerial bombs struck residential buildings, killing seven people and injuring at least 10 others.
The attacks come amid escalating Russian bombardments across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said more than 55 people had been killed in Russian attacks over the preceding four days.
The conflict continues to involve extensive aerial strikes, while ground forces remain largely locked in a stalemate along much of the front line, more than four and a half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Trump Announces Major Russian Diesel Supply Deal
Trump announced the agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a telephone conversation on Friday. The US president said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another one million tonnes thereafter.
He also announced plans for an additional three million tonnes of diesel to be delivered within a short period.
Trump presented the arrangement as an effort to address rising fuel prices in the United States ahead of the midterm elections.
The announcement came despite Washington’s recent sanctions targeting Russian oil and gas revenues, which have been a major source of funding for Moscow’s war effort.
Zelenskyy Criticises Washington’s Decision
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticised the proposed arrangement, warning that Russian energy revenues could help Moscow sustain its military campaign.
In a lengthy social media statement, Zelenskyy argued that the deal could encourage further attacks, prolong the conflict and undermine international efforts to pressure Russia.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington quoted Zelenskyy describing the move as a weak decision by strong partners.
Zelenskyy also questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were meeting Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss a proposal aimed at ending the war.
He expressed concern that the diplomatic engagement could be overshadowed by Washington’s decision to pursue the diesel arrangement with Moscow.
The latest developments highlight the continuing tensions surrounding efforts to end the war, as Russian attacks continue in Ukraine and disagreements emerge among international partners over how best to pressure Moscow and pursue a settlement.
