Czech president says US diesel deal gave Russia 'breathing space'

Czech President Petr Pavel said a US decision to let Russia resume diesel exports has given Moscow a "breathing space" at a moment when coordinated Western sanctions had put Russia in a difficult position, according to an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes Politico, cited by Ukrainska Pravda.

Pavel, a former chief of the Czech general staff and former chairman of NATO's Military Committee, said US and European sanctions on Russian oil, oligarchs and other industries had created a real chance to push Moscow towards a ceasefire. A diesel agreement announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month, under which Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tonnes of diesel to the United States, removed that pressure, he said.

"Now it will be much harder. Russia is using this momentum to get out from under the pressure, and it's a kind of moral boost for it," Pavel said. The White House has said Trump "successfully negotiated" the deal to supply the global market with large volumes of diesel and lower prices.

Pavel voiced support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has faced sharp criticism from Trump. "I think President Zelensky and the whole of Ukraine are victims of the conflict," he said, adding that Ukraine had neither attacked nor threatened Russia.

He said Trump was taking a more open approach to Russia than any European leader, but stopped short of calling the diesel deal a betrayal of Ukraine or Europe. "I don't know yet whether it can be called a betrayal, but I would call it a mistake," Pavel said, adding it gave Russia "new hope" that it could ignore Europe and Ukraine while striking deals with the US and potentially China.

Separately, Polish outlet Onet reported that Pavel warned continuing on the current course could lead to open conflict, and said Europe should offer Russia the prospect of renewed economic cooperation as an incentive.