The Kremlin said Friday that the first tanker carrying Russian diesel to the U.S. under the new import agreement has set sail, just two weeks after President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin finalized the deal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the vessel was on its way and that “regular supplies” would continue. He did not clarify how much the tanker is carrying or when he expects it to arrive.
Russian state-affiliated media reported this week, citing a statement from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, that the shipment contains 40,000 tons of diesel, or 300,000 barrels.
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The U.S. uses approximately 3.6 million barrels of diesel fuel per day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The new shipment comes less than a month after Mr. Trump agreed to waive U.S. oil restrictions on Russia and purchase the country’s diesel. The deal appears to be an attempt by the administration to lower gas prices ahead of the November midterm elections.
The agreement is a sharp reversal in U.S. policy and came just a few weeks after Mr. Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Act, a massive sanctions package meant to pressure Russia’s oil export business.
Those sanctions have now been put on hold as the U.S. pushes for further mediation efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Mr. Trump’s decision to loosen restrictions on Russian oil “weak” and has resisted calls to stop its attacks on the country’s refineries unilaterally.
Mr. Trump earlier this month announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an energy ceasefire, a declaration that seemed to surprise Mr. Zelenskyy, who said he would uphold the agreement if Russia did the same.
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