President Trump’s announcement of a deal to buy several million barrels of Russi
By Rbranson · October 11, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
President Trump’s announcement of a deal to buy several million barrels of Russian diesel is the most astonishing act of hypocrisy I’ve seen in my lifetime. And I’ve been around for 76 years.
Just a little over three weeks ago, Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, authorising his administration to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian (and Iranian) oil and gas. Targeting primarily India and China, it was welcomed as a necessary measure to strike Putin’s war economy and impose a potentially crippling economic toll for his continued, completely unwarranted aggression against Ukraine.
Scheduled to take effect in eight days, the Act now seems worthless, sacrificed for an awful Hail Mary pass to buy votes in the US midterm elections in November, when MAGA Republicans are facing the ire of frustrated voters who no longer believe the ramblings of a president who has promised everything and delivered so little. The irony of it? Experts suggest that it will not even make a noticeable dent on prices at the pump. Putin must be laughing all the way to the bank.
It’s hard to put in words how damaging this latest about face is - certainly for a president already running dangerously low on credibility. But it is particularly grating for the brave people of Ukraine, who have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of Russia’s attacks.
It was worrying enough to see this US administration gradually lose interest in Ukraine over the last 18 months. But this is no longer just disinterest - It’s a bloody backstabbing that will make Ukraine’s job to bring the war to an agreeable end even harder. No doubt, more Ukrainian lives will be lost because of it. I hope there is someone left in Trump’s administration or in Congress that will stop this madness, but I’m not holding my breath.