Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agree on Russian diesel supply deal
Following a 90-minute phone call on October 9, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a major deal to supply Russian diesel to the American and international markets. The agreement includes an immediate delivery of over 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November and an additional one million tons shortly thereafter, with a potential for three million more based on refinery capacity. The U.S. has issued a general license permitting these transactions through April 7, 2027.
The deal aims to reduce fuel prices, a key priority for the Trump administration ahead of upcoming elections. However, the announcement has strained relations with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move as providing Russia with resources to fund the war. Trump responded by demanding that Ukraine cease all attacks on Russian oil refineries, even calling for new leadership in Kyiv, while claiming Putin is eager for a peace deal that Zelenskyy refuses to pursue.
In response to the mounting pressure, President Zelenskyy stated on October 11 that Ukraine is willing to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow reciprocates by stopping its own attacks on Ukrainian facilities. Meanwhile, energy market analysts have expressed skepticism regarding the long-term impact of the promised supply on global fuel prices.