Zelenskyy Condemns Trump Deal to Lift Russian Diesel Sanctions

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Donald Trump of undermining Kyiv's interests after the US president announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to lift diesel sanctions on Russia. The announcement came Friday as US, Ukrainian and European negotiators met in Miami to discuss ending the war, prompting criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans over Washington's approach to Moscow.

Trump said the agreement was necessary to bring down US fuel prices, which have risen following his decision to go to war with Iran. The move threatens to deepen tensions with Washington's NATO allies as Ukraine continues to face Russian attacks.

Six hours of negotiations took place in Miami on Friday, according to a source briefed on the discussions. Representatives discussed a postwar economic package for Ukraine and possible new security arrangements between Europe and Russia while Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met Ukrainian officials to discuss a peace plan.

Zelenskyy, who traveled to Washington last month to urge US lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, criticized the timing and substance of Trump's announcement. He said the Ukrainian delegation's participation in the Miami negotiations had been overshadowed by the sanctions decision.

"I believe our team is simply being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other." Zelenskyy said in a statement on Friday.

The Ukrainian president also described the move as "unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners" in his response to the US policy shift.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the agreement, calling it a betrayal of Ukraine, European allies and US national security.

"Enough is enough," the senators wrote.

The lawmakers called on Trump to change course on the conflict with Iran, arguing that the administration's policy was benefiting Russia's war effort.

"The President must end his war with Iran instead of funding Russia's war machine." Schumer, Shaheen and Warren said in their joint statement.

Republican Representative Don Bacon also criticized the administration's approach to Russia and Ukraine, saying most Americans supported Ukraine.

"The President's policies towards Russia and Ukraine are failures. We need moral clarity not moral ambiguity." Bacon said.

Separately, Ukraine struck a major data center operated by Russian technology company Yandex in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow on Friday, partially disabling the facility, according to the company. The attack was the second such operation on consecutive days.

Yandex, which plays a significant role in Russia's artificial intelligence development, said Ukrainian drones hit the data center. Ukrainian arms manufacturer Firepoint said Kyiv used its FP-1 one-way attack drones in the operation.

In Austria, four Ukrainians were arrested in Vienna this week on suspicion of espionage, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said Friday. Three remained in custody, and Karner declined to provide further details because the investigation was ongoing.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that two members of its team were among those detained. The Ukrainian embassy in Vienna was awaiting an explanation from Austrian authorities about the circumstances and legal basis for the arrests, according to a spokeswoman quoted by Austria's APA news agency.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Russian forces struck three cargo vessels in and around Ukraine's Black Sea ports on Friday. According to the ministry, one ship was hit in Mykolaiv, another in Chornomorsk and a third vessel bound for Odesa was struck in the Black Sea.

The ministry claimed all three vessels were being used to supply the Ukrainian military. Reuters said it could not independently verify the report or the claim.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes killed three people and wounded at least eight across the country on Friday. The attacks followed three days of intensified Russian bombardments that had killed more than 50 people, according to the officials.