Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS) presidential and vice-presidential candidates Nikolay Nenchev and Tsveta Kirilova have asked Donald Trump in a letter to reconsider his decision to ease exports of Russian diesel. The letter, dated 11 October 2026, says that "Europe's security cannot be a function of the price of diesel in the United States"[1].
Trump said on 9 October 2026 that, after a call with Putin, Russia will put 300,000 tonnes of diesel on the market at once, 500,000 tonnes in November and another million after that. The US Treasury issued a general licence that allows the sale, delivery and import of Russian diesel until April 2027.[2] On 10 October 2026, Russia partly lifted its own export ban and allowed the sale of 500,000 tonnes. It had introduced the ban in July 2026, after Ukrainian strikes on oil sites did heavy damage to its fuel supply[3].
Nenchev and Kirilova say the decision will raise Russia's energy income without any verifiable commitments to de-escalate. They say it will also ease the pressure that limits Russia's ability to wage war. They are also worried by reports that Ukraine is being asked to stop hitting Russian refineries, while Russia is not making an equal commitment to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy sites[1].
"Peace cannot be achieved through unilateral concessions," the two add. They ask Trump to reconsider the decision, unless it is tied to "substantial, mutual and verifiable steps" towards halting military action[1].
Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine since February 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "gifts for Putin will not bring peace", and called the deal an "investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged"[2]. Ukrainian officials say they will stop hitting refineries if Moscow stops hitting Ukrainian energy sites[2]. A senior Ukrainian official said Ukraine will keep striking Russian refineries despite the deal[4]. Putin confirmed that Russia is ready to supply oil products. He rejected peace talks, saying he will fight until he achieves "all of his goals"[4].
The deal is also drawing criticism in the US Congress. Republican congressman Don Bacon said the decision does not look good. Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal called it "a stain on our nation's character" and pointed to the bipartisan sanctions legislation passed recently[2].
Nikolay Nenchev, a former defence minister, and Tsveta Kirilova, a journalist with a master's degree in national and international security, are BZNS nominees. The presidential election is on 25 October 2026.[5]