This would be the first Russian diesel delivery to American since 2023. Three tankers carrying Russian diesel to the United States under a new import agreement have set sail from the Russian port of Primorsk, and are headed to North America, Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.
A first tanker had on Friday signalled that it was headed to New York, and was slated to arrive there on November 7, the Associated Press reported, according to marine intelligence firm Kpler. The decision had come a month after the House of Representatives passed the act, giving him the power to levy up to 100% tariffs on the top 5 purchasers of Russian energy. The development comes two weeks after US President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Moscow following a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Days after he announced the diesel deal, Trump waived off sanctions under the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could have targeted India and four nations for purchasing Russian oil and gas.
The announcement of the diesel deal had sparked backlash in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a “weak decision by strong partners”. The deal is seen as an attempt by the US President to address high fuel prices in America ahead of the midterm elections. It also drew criticism from both te Republicans and Democrats in the US, with Trump being accused of violating American laws.
The deal signalled a policy reversal for the Trump administration, which had last month signed into law a sweeping sanctions package which had called for up to 100 per cent tariffs on top five countries purchasing Russian energy. Russia’s deputy prime minister Novak had, earlier this week, said the first shipment, which includes three tankers, would amount to 40,000 tons of diesel, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. This comes up to about 300,000 barrels – approximately 7 per cent of the roughly 4 million barrels of diesel the American economy consumes in a single day, according to AP. Novak had also said that Russian companies could supply 500,000 metric tonnes to the US in October.
These measures were later put on hold. The diesel shipment is among the recent breaks Trump has allowed Moscow. It comes amid Trump’s souring relations with Zelensky , with the US President accusing the latter of not wanting to end the conflict with Russia.
