Zelenskiy: Ukraine reaching agreement on Middle East diesel supplies

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Friday that Kyiv is working to reach an agreement with Middle Eastern countries on diesel supplies, the type of fuel most in demand in the country.

Zelenskiy spoke to a Ukrainian TV interviewer during a Middle Eastern tour. He had earlier said that Ukraine and Saudi Arabia had signed a defence cooperation agreement which lays the 'foundation for future contracts, technical cooperation and investment.

Zelenskiy stated that he discussed "a possible diesel shortage" with his ministers as well as Naftogaz the national gas production and distribution company.

He said: "I am aware of the importance of this task for Ukraine's safety and I believe this issue will be solved."

"In the first place, it's about diesel." About 90% of any potential shortage is diesel. He added that this is?the problem we are focused on to solve".

Zelenskiy had earlier stated that the framework agreement was signed before a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

The president is hoping that his visit to the Gulf will?increase support for Ukraine's four-year war against Russia.

Kyiv sent 220 experts to Middle Eastern countries to advise them on how to "intercept drone attacks" that have caused havoc in the energy infrastructure of the region. (Reporting and editing by Edward Tobin, Oleksandr Kozoukhar, Ron Popeski)

(source: Reuters)