MPs press PM on Trump's Russian diesel deal and Ukraine energy ceasefire

MPs have pressed the Prime Minister over President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel and then buy it, saying the move undermines Ukraine and helps Vladimir Putin's war effort. The challenge came during Commons exchanges, where an MP described the policy as a real kick in the teeth for Ukrainian friends.

The MP said the diesel deal would allow Putin to further fuel his deadly war machine. They also warned that nations such as India, which were hit with tariffs for buying Russian fuel, would be left bemused by what they called haphazard and hypocritical US policies. The MP asked the Prime Minister whether he had held talks with US or European allies about reports that US officials had contacted European counterparts to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and to limit supplies of weapons and intelligence.

The Prime Minister said he would always support Ukraine. He said he had called President Zelensky on Saturday afternoon because Zelensky was in the middle of a very difficult 24 hours. The Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke to the US Treasury Secretary around the same time and raised the importance of an energy ceasefire, he said. The Prime Minister welcomed the ceasefire proposal that emerged from the President the previous day, calling it the best possible outcome in the circumstances. He said it would get fuel flowing into the market and protect Ukraine through the winter ahead.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also pressed the Prime Minister on Ukraine. He called for a coalition of the willing to issue a joint statement condemning Trump's diesel deal with Russia and to call on him to cancel it. He said the US President was waging a trade war with Canada while signing a new trade deal with Putin, and argued that no US president had been so hostile to the UK and its allies or so friendly to their adversaries. He also asked the Prime Minister to publish evidence about Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. The Prime Minister said he had discussed holding a Coalition of the Willing meeting with Chancellor Mertz and would update the House. He also pointed to a new National Centre for Information Defence to protect against interference in UK democracy.