Kremlin says it sees no direct link between US diesel deal and Russia's Ukraine stance
USO•The Kremlin said it saw no direct link between a deal to export Russian diesel to the United States and Moscow’s stance on Ukraine peace talks. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the deal mutually beneficial for Russia, the United States and global energy markets.
1. Kremlin rejects a link
The Kremlin said it did not see a direct connection between Russian diesel exports to the United States and Moscow’s position on Ukraine peace talks. The statement followed a report that US envoys had told Ukrainian officials the deal was part of an attempt to bring Russia back into negotiations.
2. Peskov defends deal
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the diesel trade a mutually beneficial area of Russian-American cooperation, serving the interests of the United States, global energy markets and Russia. He also rejected European criticism as “cynical,” saying Europe continued to buy some Russian oil and liquefied natural gas. Russia still supplies a small portion of oil to Slovakia and Hungary through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline.
