Page A213From§Eachthe morning edition — 15 October 2026
As it ran on the front
Start before the deal, because the pushback did too. In September, Representatives Joe Wilson and Keith Self asked the administration to put sanctions back on a Russian-owned refinery in Serbia — a different refinery, the same complaint: Russian fuel keeps finding a market no matter which hand is on the valve. On October 1, Ukraine was still hitting refineries inside Russia itself, and the White House was already blaming those strikes, not the war in Iran analysts also cited, for the diesel prices climbing into the midterms.
On October 10 the trade got made. Sanctions on Russian diesel came off, the strikes were supposed to stop, and the president told Zelensky, in public, to find a new president if the arrangement bothered him that much.…
…(cont) On October 11, members from both parties told the president to "immediately reverse course" on a deal they described as 800,000 tons of Russian diesel over two months. He did not reverse course. On October 12 the president called his own party's skeptics people who "can't be serious," and the number in public use had already grown: nearly five million tons of Russian diesel in total, 300,000 of it promised "in the immediate future" — a separate figure, from a separate day, that the two camps have not reconciled in public. Call the gap between those numbers leverage, which is the word for it, or call it — no. Call it what the invoice will call it eventually.
Five days is what the pause actually bought. From the sanctions relief on October 10 to the refinery strikes resuming on October 15, that is the whole life span of the ceasefire this deal was supposed to buy. Zelensky called the American pullback of support "dangerous" and said of the pause, "we're done." He is done pausing.
The same day, the Washington Examiner went looking for the Republican Senate candidates in the thirteen most contested races to ask what they made of the deal that caused it. On this one, the paper could not put a name to a single candidate on the record, for it or against it. I was going to call that restraint. It is restraint, the kind campaigns practice before a primary — a season this deal's own five-day shelf life did not survive, and neither, it turns out, will my sentence.
“Six senators, both parties, told him to reverse course and he waved them off as not serious; five days later the war he said this fixed was back on. The candidates who'd normally run ads bragging about a deal like this can't say the word diesel out loud three weeks before an election. The price went up, the war didn't stop, and the people whose names are on a ballot are the ones holding still.”
“The president secured a diesel supply when allies were scrambling, and senators grandstanding about tonnage doesn't change the delivery math. Sure, the strikes started back up, but that's Kyiv's call, not a failure of the deal — wait, the entire premise of the deal was that the strikes would stop, so that is actually a failure of the — did I say premise? Scratch that. I meant optics.”
Earlier in this story
The receipts
"I'll meet with Putin. I'll meet with Zelensky... And within 24 hours, that war will be settled" - Trump, CNN town hall, 10 May 2023. CNN counted 53 separate occasions he promised it. CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump calls for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy after clash over Russia diesel deal: 'Get a new president'President Donald Trump demanded Volodymyr Zelenskyy stop striking Russian oil refineries, warning the attacks worsen global diesel and fuel supplies.
Trump promised to settle the Ukraine war with Putin within 24 hours - on 53 separate occasions CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump says Russia will release millions of tons of diesel to help with costsRussian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release 300,000 tons of diesel immediately and millions more over the coming months.
Trump promised to settle the war within 24 hours - on 53 separate occasions, CNN counted CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump rips into Volodymyr Zelensky — insisting it’s time for Ukraine to ‘get a new president’President Trump ripped into Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday telling reporters outside the White House that it's time for Ukraine to “get a new president.”
Trump promised to personally end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours - and repeated that promise on 53 separate occasions CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes, Defying TrumpPresident Volodymyr Zelensky made the announcement in an interview with The Financial Times. He had paused the strikes to comply with a demand from the United States.
US president says agreement needed to lower fuel prices, but move likely to create fresh crisis with Ukraine and Nato allies Donald Trump is on a fresh collision course with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies after his stunning agreement to buy Russian diesel upended years of US and western pressure on the Kremlin to end its war…
Trump promised he'd meet Putin and Zelensky and settle the war within 24 hours — 53 separate times, CNN counted CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump and Putin sign diesel deal, angering Ukraine and its alliesThe US president announced Friday that Russia has committed to supplying nearly 5 million tons of diesel fuel to the United States and global markets 'within a short period of time.' The deal has sparked outrage across Europe.
Ukraine's president sharply criticised the move, calling it an "investment in war that must be ended, not prolonged".
Trump promised he'd settle the Ukraine war within 24 hours of talking to Putin and Zelenskyy - he's said some version of that 53 separate times CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump says Ukraine needs a new leader after diesel deal with RussiaUS president suggests Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not done enough to end war Donald Trump has said Ukraine needs “a new leader”, a day after making a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy large quantities of Russian diesel. The US president suggested Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not done enough to end the war with Russia and…
Trump promised to settle the war within 24 hours - on 53 separate occasions, CNN counted CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump says Ukraine needs ‘a new leader who can make a deal’President Donald Trump on Saturday called for new leadership in Ukraine, marking a dramatic shift in the United States’s relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has long pushed Russia and Ukraine to make a deal ending the war between the countries, which has now stretched over four-and-a-half years and appeared to…
President Trump on Saturday pushed back on criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The president told reporters outside the White House that Zelensky “could have settled this war many times,” but “chose not to.”
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday on criticism from Republicans over his deal to procure Russian diesel fuel. Last week, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an agreement that would see Russia export nearly 5 million tons of diesel to the United States, including 300,000 tons in the immediate future. Trump has…
Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy angrily accused the United States of the “dangerous” withdrawal of support critical to its defense against Russia.
Trump promised to settle the war within 24 hours - on 53 separate occasions, CNN counted CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
'Time for Ukraine to get new president,' says Trump after Zelensky condemns diesel dealUkraine's leader had said the deal with Russia to release diesel into the US would help Moscow fund the war.
Trump promised to settle the war within 24 hours - CNN counted 53 separate occasions he made that promise CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Rebuking Ukraine Over Oil Strikes, Trump Says It Should ‘Get a New President’Hours after President Trump said the United States would buy Russian diesel, the Kremlin said there would be no immediate resumption of discussions to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would resume hitting Russian oil refineries.
Trump promised 53 times he'd end the war within 24 hours CNN fact check, 25 April 2025 (all 53 instances)
Trump says Ukraine needs new president, blames Zelenskyy for diesel pricesPresident Trump's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes after Russian strikes killed at least 20 people, including three children, in Ukraine.
A group of Republican Senate candidates in battleground races have yet to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s controversial deal for Russian diesel, even as the chorus of candidates trying to create daylight with the president grows louder by the day. Of the 13 most competitive Senate races, seven Republicans have expressed skepticism…
A group of Senators released a statement regarding President Donald Trump’s deal with Russia to release 800,000 tons of diesel over the next two months, demanding he “immediately reverse course.” Senators from both sides of the aisle signed onto the statement opposing Trump’s announced deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for…
· Ukraine persists with Russian oil refinery strikes, defying Trump on fuel price warnings from the morgue, 1 Oct 2026
· GOP Reps urge Trump to reimpose sanctions on Russian-owned Serbian refinery from the morgue, 28 Sep 2026
· Trump: Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry as prices soar from the morgue, 21 Sep 2026
· Trump says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to energy target ceasefire from the morgue, 14 Sep 2026
· Trump calls on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel fuel from the morgue, 14 Sep 2026
· Trump blames Ukraine for diesel fuel price spike, urges Zelensky to stop hitting Russian refineries from the morgue, 13 Sep 2026
· Trump calls out Zelensky over rising diesel prices from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Britain in talks with European allies over release of emergency diesel stockpiles amid Trump pressure from the morgue, 1 Oct 2026
· Russia’s Lavrov blasts US, Western allies as “warmongers’ in fiery UN tirade from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· Russia and China unite against US over Iran and Cuba in UN speeches from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· U.S. military lays groundwork for potential action around Cuba from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a United States bid to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In a Security Council vote, United States only got support from the Dominican from the morgue, 14 Aug 2020
· U.S. Threatens New Economic War on Iran by Targeting China & Tehran's Other Top Trading Partners from the morgue, 25 Aug 2026
· In Defiant UN Speech, Iranian President Says US and Israel Are the Real Terrorists from the morgue, 23 Sep 2026
· Trump slams reporting on removal of his endorsements from GOP candidate's website from the morgue, 27 Sep 2026
· Donalds removes several Trump mentions from campaign website from the morgue, 22 Sep 2026
· GOP hopeful removes ‘Pro-Trump’ mention from campaign slogan in deep-red seat from the morgue, 23 Sep 2026
· Where Trump’s 2026 endorsement record stands after primary season from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· U.N. experts say U.S. may have committed war crimes with 2 Iran strikes from the morgue, 22 Sep 2026
· Trump Says 'Big Decision' Coming on Whether to 'Annihilate' Iran from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Pentagon No. 3 frustrates senators in closed-door briefing on Iran war, Trump defense strategy from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Senate Democrats, minus Fetterman, urge Hegseth to provide receipt for Iran war costs from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Hegseth on "devastation" to Iran's capabilities from the morgue, 10 Sep 2026
· Trump admits Iran war will not end before midterms from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· Iran War Trump Said Would Be Quick Has Now Lasted 6 Months With 'No End In Sight' from the morgue, 28 Aug 2026
· CBO Finds Trump's Iran War Has Already Cost Nearly $40 Billion—And That's a 'Conservative' Estimate from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Tillis supports Hegseth impeachment resolution: 'He needs to go' from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie Files Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth for Illegal Iran War, Boat Murders from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Massie launches effort to impeach Hegseth from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Tillis urges Trump to fire Hegseth over 'inept management' of military from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· Tillis renews calls for Hegseth’s firing after Driscoll’s departure: ‘I have never witnessed more inept management’ from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· Farmer who voted for Trump says farmers are "all just in survival mode" from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Farmer who voted for Trump says "I can't stay in business" amid rising costs from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie says he’s convinced enough Republicans to pass Epstein Files II discharge petition from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie names Epstein 'coconspirators,' discusses new Epstein files legislation from the morgue, 1 Sep 2026
· Read Thomas Massie’s eight impeachment charges against Pete Hegseth from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Fake Republican midterm convention site still redirects to Epstein files from the morgue, 7 Sep 2026
· Trump says he has a ‘big decision’ coming up on Iran: ‘Do I want to go in and annihilate them’ from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Fox News Poll: 71% think Trump administration lacks plan to end Iran war from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran recently downed at least 2 American drones, officials say from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Big Oil Stocks Surged Due to Iran War—and New Filings Show How President Trump Cashed In from the morgue, 27 Aug 2026
· Live updates: Energy secretary downplays rising gas prices as US, Iran trade strikes from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· U.S. Strike on Iranian School May Have Been War Crime, U.N. Report Says from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN Inquiry Finds US Strike on Minab, Iran That Killed 123 Children Was War Crime from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN investigators conclude ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe certain US strikes in Iran were war crimes from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN Suspects US War Crimes in Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· US Condemned for 'War Crimes' After Bombing of Wedding Party in Iran from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· US investigating if missile hit Iranian wedding ceremony, killing 4 from the morgue, 4 Sep 2026
· Trump says he has a ‘big decision coming up’ on Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· White House issues explosive response to UN-backed report claiming US committed war crimes against world’s No.1 sponsor of terror, Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Human rights experts: 'Reasonable grounds' to believe US committed war crimes with Iran strikes from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· US Energy Consumers Have Spent $121 Billion Extra Since Trump Launched Iran War: Moody's from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran downed at least 2 American drones in recent days, U.S. officials say from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran: Account of US Air Force colonel's rescue 'fictional' from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Consumer Burden of Trump Iran War Exceeds $100 Billion as Oil Prices Pass $100 a Barrel from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· 'A Serious and Alarming Threat': US Bombing, Blockade Deepen Iran Medical Crisis from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· Consumer Confidence Hits Lowest Level in Months as US Faces 'Trump's Reckless Tariffs and War With Iran' from the morgue, 25 Aug 2026
· U.S. Air Force officer rescued from Iran speaks for the first time to 60 Minutes from the morgue, 8 Sep 2026
· Rep. Thomas Massie forcing vote on Pete Hegseth's impeachment from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Did Johnson Just Adjourn Congress for 7 Weeks to Avoid Massie's Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth? from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Massie saying Johnson is sending the House home early to prevent Hegseth impeachment from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· ‘You’re Elected to Fight and Kill the Other Side’: How Congress Lost Its Way from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Army combat veteran challenging Mike Lawler calls Hegseth national security 'hazard,' backs impeachment from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· Former Air Force secretary says he 'couldn't serve' in Trump administration from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· Former Air Force secretary: Hegseth's Pentagon 'dysfunctional' from the morgue, 3 Sep 2026
· House Republicans split over leaving Washington early for campaign trail from the morgue, 1 Sep 2026
· Since 2025, Trump Made More Stock Trades Than All 535 Congress Members Combined from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Fossil Fuel Advertising Contracts Hit Record High as Big Oil Pockets Billions From Iran War from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· 'How are we gonna get through this?' Many Americans are struggling as prices rise from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front. The byline is a pen name for a column drafted by a machine and checked by the editor: how this is made.