Russia schedules first diesel shipment to the United States

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that the first tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is scheduled to depart for the United States on Thursday, October 22. This shipment follows an energy agreement reached between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation on October 9. The deal involves lifting sanctions on Russian oil to help lower fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Following the bilateral agreement, Moscow lifted its domestic export ban on diesel, which had been implemented earlier to address internal shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Beyond the initial shipment, Russia plans to supply 300,000 tons of diesel in October, 500,000 tons in November, and one million tons in December, as capacity allows. The move has drawn strong criticism from Ukraine and its allies. Negotiations for finalizing the long-term contracts are currently in their final stages, with additional shipments expected to follow the inaugural delivery.