Free Republic

Russian refiners are raising diesel production in October after the government granted export quotas following the Kremlin's supply agreement with the United States, said two industry sources close ​to the matter. US President Donald Trump said on October 9 that Russian President ‌Vladimir Putin had agreed to a deal to supply diesel from Russia to the United States and global markets, with the US temporarily lifting its sanctions on Russian fuel. Russia confirmed the deal and Trump said that ​Russia would deliver more than 300,000 metric tons (about 2.25 million barrels) of diesel ​immediately, followed by another 500,000 tons in...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says 9.5 million Ukrainians out of its population of almost 40 million are abroad since the war started. "This war pushed them out of Ukraine, 9.5 million. Can you imagine?" he says. "If the population of your country is 40 million, can you imagine that 20% to 25% are abroad from the beginning of this full-scale invasion?" he adds.

The White House has blocked the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, US officials have said. The transfer of interceptor missiles from countries friendly to Ukraine requires the approval of Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary. While Mr Hegseth has not formally rejected the deals involving countries other than the US – as the manufacturer, it retains control over the weapons – he has not completed the steps required to approve them, sources told The Washington Post. Last week, a Ukrainian official told the Post that Kyiv had "only a couple" of missiles – vital to intercepting Russian missiles –...