Meloni warns U.S.-Russia diesel deal risks weakening pressure

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned parliament on October 14 that a U.S.-Russia diesel arrangement could undermine efforts to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine, calling the deal a risky choice. She said it could legitimize the Russian government, provide revenue for its military campaign and weaken the leverage of sanctions. Those were Meloni’s assessments of potential consequences; the supplied reporting does not establish that the arrangement has produced them. The United States and Russia announced the arrangement last week, under which Moscow would initially supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to U.S. and global markets. The reported volume describes the announced deal, not confirmed deliveries. The parties’ agreement and any shipments were not detailed in the reports. Meloni told parliament that the economic outcome was uncertain while the strategic risks were clear. She argued that renewed energy trade could conflict with Western efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiations with Ukraine, particularly as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continued. U.S.