Trump and Putin reach agreement on Russian diesel supply

On October 9, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply large quantities of Russian diesel to the American and global markets. Following a 90-minute phone call, it was confirmed that Russia will immediately provide over 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons thereafter, and an additional 3 million tons based on the capacity of Russian refineries. To facilitate this, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a general license allowing transactions involving Russian diesel until April 7, 2027.

The agreement stems from U.S. efforts to lower fuel prices ahead of midterm elections and reports that the deal was prompted by Ukraine's continued strikes on Russian oil infrastructure despite six U.S. requests to halt them. Trump has publicly demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stop these attacks, suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader who is willing to negotiate. The deal has sparked significant international controversy, with Zelenskiy condemning it as an "unfair" economic lifeline for Moscow that supports its ongoing war effort, while energy market analysts have expressed skepticism regarding the long-term impact on global fuel prices.