Conflict in Ukraine: Trump, Putin, and Energy Diplomacy Under Pressure

Energy issues and political strategies are shaping relations between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky as negotiations over Ukraine could redefine the global geopolitical balance.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Negotiations over Ukraine are intensifying as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky play their cards in a game where economics and politics are deeply intertwined. Discussions extend beyond military advances or territorial claims: oil and energy strategy have become central to the debates.

Oil at the Heart of the Discussions

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump proposed a strategy to lower oil prices to weaken Russia’s economic position. According to him, lower prices “would immediately end the conflict in Ukraine.” This statement, though striking, raises doubts in financial circles: a prolonged drop in prices could also weaken U.S. producers.

Vladimir Putin, for his part, disputed this approach, emphasizing the strategic importance of hydrocarbons for Western economies. Russia, which has diversified its energy exports to Asia, could cushion the impact of such a measure, though it might reduce revenues in the short term.

Ukraine Facing Complex Diplomacy

In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about negotiations conducted without Ukraine’s direct involvement. The Ukrainian administration fears that bilateral talks between Washington and Moscow could weaken its position, especially in a military context marked by Russian advances in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine’s main goal remains clear: to secure solid security guarantees from the U.S. and Europeans before any dialogue with the Kremlin. However, Trump’s recent statement claiming that Kyiv is “ready to negotiate” has created uncertainty about the true U.S. stance in this dynamic.

Tensions on the Ground and Military Escalation

While diplomatic actors exchange statements, the military situation on the ground remains tense. Russia has claimed new strategic territorial gains, while Ukraine continues to carry out targeted strikes on critical infrastructure in Russian territory.

This escalation demonstrates that, despite ambitions for dialogue, war remains a tool of leverage for both sides. Moscow seeks to consolidate its territorial gains, while Kyiv aims to sustain Western support by proving its resilience.

Energy Diplomacy Under Pressure

The role of hydrocarbons in this conflict goes beyond simple commercial transactions. For Russia, oil and gas remain key geopolitical instruments, as international sanctions have not fully curtailed its revenues. Meanwhile, the West continues to debate strategies to limit these financial flows without jeopardizing its own economies.

Trump’s remarks about reducing oil prices show that energy diplomacy remains a crucial yet challenging lever. Any initiative in this direction will require consensus among major economic powers, which seems difficult to achieve in such a polarized context.

Ambassadors of European Union member states have approved the transmission of a legislative proposal to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by January 2028 to the Council of Ministers.
The State Duma has approved Russia’s formal withdrawal from a treaty signed with the United States on the elimination of military-grade plutonium, ending over two decades of strategic nuclear cooperation.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was not in Poland’s interest to extradite to Germany a Ukrainian citizen suspected of taking part in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022.
Al-Harfi and SCLCO signed agreements with Syrian authorities to develop solar and wind capacity, amid an ongoing energy rapprochement between Riyadh and Damascus.
Faced with risks to Middle Eastern supply chains, Thai and Japanese refiners are turning to US crude, backed by tariff incentives and strategies aligned with ongoing bilateral trade discussions.
France intercepted a tanker linked to Russian exports, prompting Emmanuel Macron to call for a coordinated European response to hinder vessels bypassing oil sanctions.
The activation of the snapback mechanism reinstates all UN sanctions on Iran, directly affecting the defence, financial and maritime trade sectors.
Commissioner Dan Jørgensen visits Greenland to expand energy ties with the European Union, amid plans to double EU funding for the 2028–2034 period.
European and Iranian foreign ministers meet in New York to try to prevent the reinstatement of UN sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a bilateral agreement with Mexico including targeted investments in energy corridors, logistics infrastructure and cross-border security.
The US president has called for an immediate end to Russian oil imports by NATO countries, denouncing a strategic contradiction as sanctions against Moscow are being considered.
Tehran withdrew a resolution denouncing attacks on its nuclear facilities, citing US pressure on IAEA members who feared suspension of Washington’s voluntary contributions.
Poland’s energy minister calls on European Union member states to collectively commit to halting Russian oil purchases within two years, citing increasing geopolitical risks.
Athens and Tripoli engage in a negotiation process to define their exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean, amid geopolitical tensions and underwater energy stakes.
European powers demand concrete steps from Tehran on nuclear issue or United Nations sanctions will be reinstated, as IAEA inspections remain blocked and tensions with Washington persist.
Brussels confirms its target to end all Russian energy imports by 2028, despite growing diplomatic pressure from Washington amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Donald Trump threatens to escalate US sanctions against Russia, but only if NATO member states stop all Russian oil imports, which remain active via certain pipelines.
The two countries agreed to develop infrastructure dedicated to liquefied natural gas to strengthen Europe's energy security and boost transatlantic trade.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls for modernising the oil industry and expanding export markets as Tehran faces the possible reactivation of 2015 nuclear deal sanctions.
The Ukrainian president demanded that Slovakia end its imports of Russian crude, offering an alternative supply solution amid ongoing war and growing diplomatic tensions over the Druzhba pipeline.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.