‘Very risky choice’: Meloni warns US-Russia diesel deal could help fund Ukraine war

Meloni warns US-Russia diesel deal could benefit Moscow Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday criticised the United States' agreement with Russia on diesel supplies, calling it a “very risky choice” that could undermine efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine.Speaking in the Italian parliament ahead of a European Union summit this week, Meloni said the agreement could provide Moscow with additional revenue to fund the war and weaken the impact of sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters.“The outcome of this decision is uncertain, while the risks are clear,” she said.“It provides Moscow with legitimacy as its bombs continue to fall on Ukrainian cities, generates new revenue to finance the war, and implicitly weakens the effectiveness of sanctions,” Meloni added.The United States and Russia said last week they had agreed on an initial supply of more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to US and global markets.US President Donald Trump has defended the arrangement, saying it would help bring down energy prices for American consumers ahead of crucial midterm elections that will determin...