It was late one Friday afternoon in October when Donald Trump unveiled what he thought would be a bold new plan to rescue America from the fuel crisis.
"I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace," he wrote on Truth Social.
The controversial diesel accord with Russia blindsided Washington's allies in Europe and threatened to undermine years of layered sanctions on the economy fuelling Moscow's war machine.
