Vladimir Putin
Role at the time: President of Russia, in a statement published on the Kremlin's website
Statement summary
Vladimir Putin said Russia had confirmed during his call with Trump its willingness to supply oil and petroleum products to the U.S. and global markets, and that he was convinced this would have a positive impact on the entire global economy.
“When discussing the state of affairs in the global energy market, the Russian side confirmed its willingness to supply oil and petroleum products to the US market and global markets at large. I am convinced this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy.”
Putin's statement on his October 9 call with Trump, published in English on the Kremlin's website.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The case asks whether the U.S. should ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices, as the administration did on October 9. Putin says Russia "confirmed its willingness to supply oil and petroleum products" to U.S. and global markets and that this "will have a positive impact on the entire global economy". That endorses the arrangement, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because the statement attaches no condition to the supplies.