Jon Stewart tears into Trump’s Russian diesel deal as Ukraine crisis deepens

Jon Stewart used Monday's Daily Show to attack President Donald Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia and import Russian diesel to reduce American fuel prices. Stewart called the arrangement "insane" after airing Energy Secretary Chris Wright's Fox News defense, in which Wright argued that boosting Russian diesel sales could eventually help Ukraine. Lawmakers from both parties have warned that the revenue could finance Moscow's war, according to The Independent.

The dispute lands as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate. Ukrainian forces report disruptions to Starshield, the SpaceX-run military satellite network, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the limits have weakened Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones. Elon Musk said the US government sets Starshield's limits, Marco Rubio said the Pentagon oversees it, and Trump denied ordering restrictions. Trump also said Monday that someone else should negotiate for Ukraine, leaving room for talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

Zelenskyy told senators Ukraine has nearly run out of Patriot interceptors. Former ambassador Dan Fried said the moves seem aimed at pressuring Zelenskyy and courting Putin, while Fiona Hill suggested Trump may be trying to deter Putin from aiding Iran.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →