Why Trump and Putin struck diesel deal: Germany reveals motive
Photo: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Getty Images)
Germany believes that US President Donald Trump's recent pivot toward Russia is the result of intense domestic political pressure. The US will soon hold midterm elections, states German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at an employers' conference in Berlin.
Pistorius on the "diesel deal"
Trump is backed into a corner as there are only a few weeks left until the midterm elections, the German minister said.
Pistorius is convinced that whenever leaders feel pressure at home, they seek an outlet in foreign policy. In his view, this has happened before.
However, he noted that Trump's move will have the opposite effect.
US midterm elections
On November 3, US voters will elect the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate.
Polls suggest that Democrats are likely to win the House of Representatives. However, control of the Senate remains uncertain.
The Republican Party, to which Trump belongs, currently holds the majority in both chambers of Congress.
If Democrats gain control of these branches of government, Trump's presidential powers will likely be significantly constrained.
On October 9, Trump announced an agreement to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel from Russia. He made this statement following a conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Ukrainian officials that the US-Russia diesel deal is an attempt to bring Russia back to peace negotiations.
