Is Trump sacrificing Ukraine for cheaper diesel?
Summary
This episode examines the surge in global diesel prices driven by concurrent disruptions from the Iran conflict and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Host Tristan Redmond and BBC Verify’s Ben Chu analyze how these supply shocks have fueled inflation in the US, prompting President Trump to abruptly reverse policy by agreeing to import Russian diesel ahead of midterm elections. The discussion covers the collapse of this deal, the resulting diplomatic rift with Ukraine, and the geopolitical implications of easing sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet to address domestic fuel costs.
Topics discussed
Sponsorships: Schwab and Odoo
Ukrainian diplomat calls for total isolation of Russia
Introduction of Ben Chu and listener email
How US-Israel strikes on Iran affected fuel prices
Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries and timing
The critical role of diesel in the global economy
Current fuel prices vs Trump's $2 goal
Fact-checking: Diesel vs Gasoline price trends
Comparing impact of Iran and Russia on diesel supply
The collapse of the US-Russia diesel deal and ceasefire
Why Trump pursued the deal despite small volumes
Sponsorships: Stiefel and OnDeck
Explaining Russia's shadow fleet and potential sanctions
The trade-off between US fuel prices and Ukraine
US policy direction and blaming Zelensky
Starlink update and episode credits
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