More than a few conservative commentators have noted the inconsistency of Trump buying diesel from Putin’s Russia. This act being in direct conflict with doing much to cut off Russia’s alternate sources of foreign exchange as punishment for it attacking Ukraine.
Gasoline drives our cars and it seems to be in fair supply, diesel on the other hand moves our goods by truck and train and it has been in short supply, with corresponding high prices. These transport costs get factored into the prices of everything we buy.
Trump buying Russian diesel is an attempt to slow down inflationary price increases before the November US midterm elections. Ukraine’s Zelensky is naturally unhappy with our doing so.
It is however a direct application of a foreign policy - enunciated by Rubio - that aims at meeting US needs first and foremost. If Ukraine has to suffer, so be it. Trump views keeping control of at least one house of Congress out of Democrats’ hands as worth the risk. Democrats and GOP hawks naturally disagree.
Is the game worth the candle? Hindsight’s acuity will reveal if expediency was the best choice. Since we’re stuck with it, let’s hope it works.
There are already some minor signs it could be working. The pundit class is notably less pessimistic now than a month ago,
