President Donald Trump's efforts to reach a diesel agreement with Russia could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with fresh revenue to fund his war against Ukraine while allowing Moscow to buy time through negotiations it has little intention of honoring, a former NATO commander warned Sunday.
Retired Gen. energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, with the president saying both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
"Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, indicated that Ukraine had not been informed of a finalized ceasefire agreement but expressed willingness to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow reciprocated. He also accused Putin of repeatedly rejecting peace proposals and continuing strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps. Putin had one answer to all of them – 'nyet,'" Zelenskyy wrote on X.
"We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace," he added.
Breedlove argued that Russia and Ukraine are pursuing different objectives, accusing Moscow of targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure while describing Kyiv's attacks on Russian energy facilities as an effort to disrupt the revenue sustaining Putin's war.
"Russia is carrying on a campaign of what we call counter value. In other words, Russia is attacking the Ukrainian people and trying to force their society to separate themselves from their president, President Zelenskyy," Breedlove said.
Breedlove also predicted Washington would pressure Zelenskyy to suspend attacks on Russia's oil industry despite their strategic importance.
"What I expect will happen is the United States will force or try to force Zelenskyy to stop bombing the petrochemical business in Russia," he said.
Trump has vehemently criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that they are disrupting global diesel supplies and driving up costs for American farmers and ranchers.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's efforts to increase diesel supplies.
"We're going to do it with all the legal authorities we have," Bessent said Sunday on Fox News. "This is good for the American people, bringing these diesel prices down," he said of the new deal.
Separately, appearing on ABC News' "This Week," Zelenskyy offered to organize Ukrainian elections if Putin agreed to a reciprocal 60-day ceasefire, although holding a vote would face legal and logistical obstacles under Ukraine's martial law.
Breedlove also expressed deep skepticism that Putin would honor any such ceasefire, citing what he described as a pattern of Russian attacks following negotiations with Trump. "Russia has never kept a promise to this president in this war," Breedlove said.
"He's never changed his expectations, and he's never delivered on his promises. Three out of four of the big cases, the very next day or that same night after the president and Mr. Putin talked, Mr. Putin launched huge attacks in Ukraine," Breedlove continued.
Breedlove also called for a tougher U.S. response.
"We now need an administration that leads from power. We say all the time, 'strength through power,' but when it comes to Russia, our demonstrated position is continued conflict through weakness," Breedlove warned.
"He started this war. This war is to benefit Russia, and this war is to keep Mr. Putin in power. And our administration needs to tell him to stop."