Zelensky: US Used Meeting With Ukraine to Strike Deal With Putin Behind Its Back
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the team of US President Donald Trump of acting dishonestly. He says a Ukrainian delegation was invited to talks in the United States while a deal with Russia's leader on lifting sanctions on diesel was reached behind its back.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the team of US President Donald Trump behaved dishonestly toward Ukraine. He states that a Ukrainian delegation was invited to talks in the United States, while at the same time an agreement was concluded behind its back with Russian President Vladimir Putin on lifting sanctions on Russian diesel.
The report on the statement was published on 10 October 2026. It does not say when the Ukrainian delegation's visit to the US took place, who led it, or which issues were discussed during the talks.
What Zelensky claims
Zelensky argues that the invitation to the talks was used as cover for a separate arrangement that Ukraine could not see. In his assessment, the American side used the negotiating format to deal with Moscow at the same time over sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.
According to the source, the sanctions in question concern Russian diesel, a petroleum product and one of Russia's export goods. The source gives no information on whether the agreement has already taken effect, what its terms are, or whether the US side has commented on these claims.
At present, the available information is limited to the Ukrainian president's own statement, with no confirmation or rebuttal included.
