Russia's first shipment of diesel to the United States is due to leave on Thursday 22 October, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, according to Meduza. He said the contract was close to being signed and that more cargoes would follow.
Speaking during his meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff, President Vladimir Putin said several tankers were being prepared, with the first carrying about 40,000 tonnes. Novak added that Russia hoped to return its diesel exports to full volume by the end of 2026, depending on what its refineries can produce.
The deal followed a phone call between Donald Trump and Putin on 9 October. The US Treasury granted a temporary licence letting Russian diesel reach world markets despite sanctions, and Trump spoke of larger deliveries over the coming months. Ukraine's President Zelensky has described the arrangement as an investment in war.
Source: Meduza
