Trump hits back at criticism of ‘Russian diesel deal’: “EU paid Russia 334 trillion won for energy”

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 12th (local time), after facing a barrage of criticism over the so-called “diesel deal” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, “I made the right decision for Americans. America always comes first.”
That day, Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social, “The European Union (EU) has paid Russia $250 billion (about 334 trillion won) for energy, and the fake news media won’t even try to get to this story.”
Trump previously said that he had reached an agreement with Putin on the 9th, under which Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, and would supply a large additional amount afterward.
The EU, Ukraine and others criticized the agreement, saying it would help Russia secure funding for its war effort. Criticism has also poured in from across the U.S. political spectrum, from both parties.
Trump’s post that day is seen as a rebuttal to this criticism.
By pointing out that European countries have continued to rely on Russian oil and gas for energy even after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, he sought to emphasize that the agreement was a decision made for Americans suffering from high oil prices at home.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price of diesel in the U.S. that day was $6.27 per gallon, still far higher than the $3.67 per gallon recorded a year earlier.
This is contributing to broader inflation and dealing a major blow to farmers during harvest season, making it a liability for Republicans in the midterm elections.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs correspondent Reporter