Burnham assures Zelensky of ‘complete solidarity’ amid US diesel deal

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reiterated his "complete solidarity" with Ukraine in a call with Volodymyr Zelensky after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy diesel from Moscow.

Burnham said he recognized the past day had been "difficult for Ukraine" and the two talked about the importance of keeping up pressure on Russia.

They agreed to meet in person in the coming days to continue talks.

Trump announced the deal to buy more than one million tonnes of diesel from Russia on Friday, as rising fuel prices heaped political pressure on him ahead of next month's mid-term elections in the US.

A Downing Street spokesperson said on Saturday: "The Prime Minister spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine today."

"The Prime Minister began by recognizing the last 24 hours had been difficult for Ukraine and reiterated his complete solidarity," the spokesperson added.

"The two leaders next discussed the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia: the Prime Minister made it clear that the UK would continue to strengthen its sanctions on Russia and to take further action to constrain the Russian war machine, building on new UK designations against Russian targets announced this week."

"They underlined that Russia should agree to an immediate energy ceasefire, ending its brutal strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and its attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. This would immediately release more energy and food supplies into the global market."

"The two leaders agreed to meet in person in the coming days to continue their discussion," the spokesperson concluded.

Zelensky had criticized the diesel move by Mr Trump, saying it "plays into Russia's hands" and would prolong the war.

The latest Russian strikes have meanwhile killed at least 17 people in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

The diesel announcement came after Trump signed a sweeping Russia sanctions law just last month aimed at clamping down on the oil and gas revenues that fuel Russia's war against Ukraine.