Trump: Agreed with Putin on supplying Russian diesel to American and global markets
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Russia has agreed to immediately pump more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel into U.S. and global markets, following what Trump described as “extremely successful” talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Trump added that Russia would subsequently send 3 million tons of diesel fuel within a short period, depending on the condition of its refineries, and would supply the market with an additional 500,000 tons in November, followed by another million tons immediately thereafter.
While the U.S. Treasury Department stated it would issue a temporary license to allow the flow of Russian diesel into global markets, Trump asserted that diesel prices for Americans and the world would see a historic decline following the agreement with Russia and full control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s announcement drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been at war with Russia for more than four years. Via his account on the X platform, Zelenskyy said Russia would “meet the diesel surge with more terrorism and treachery,” and argued that “allowing Russia to sell its oil products is an investment in a war that should be ended, not prolonged.”
Trump’s sudden announcement comes after he signed a law last month imposing broad sanctions on Russia to constrain its economy, particularly in the energy sector, among other areas fueling its war with Ukraine. The law imposes sanctions on Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of oil tankers, and bans new U.S. investment in Russia and dealings with its sovereign debt.
The United States has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, when the administration of former President Joe Biden banned their importation in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Fuel prices have surged sharply worldwide amid disruptions caused by the war in Iran’s energy sector.
