Russia is scheduled to dispatch its first diesel tanker to the US on October 22, following an agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to supply diesel to US and global markets, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.
Reuters reported that the tanker is reported to have a displacement of 40,000 metric tons, although Novak did not specify the volume of diesel it will carry or identify the US delivery port. He added that the paperwork for the supply contract was nearing completion and that further shipments would follow.
Trump said Russia would initially supply 300,000 metric tons of diesel, equivalent to approximately 2.25 million barrels (mmbbl), followed by another 500,000 metric tons in November and 1 million metric tons thereafter. The proposed deliveries are intended to increase global fuel supplies amid elevated diesel prices.
Speaking during a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on October 21, Putin said Russia was preparing several tanker shipments and would supply diesel within the limits of its available capacity. Witkoff thanked Putin for easing export restrictions, while Putin attributed a 5%-6% decline in global diesel prices to the agreement.
Putin also said Russia could supply the US market with fertilizers in large quantities, although no volumes or delivery schedule were specified.
Russia lifted restrictions on diesel exports on October 9 after domestic fuel shortages, which Moscow attributed to Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries, disrupted supplies. The country has said it will restore exports in line with refinery capacity, with broader export volumes expected to recover toward the end of 2026.
On October 9, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a temporary license authorizing the sale, delivery, and import of Russian diesel, including shipments to the United States, until April 7, 2027. Trump later waived additional Russia-related sanctions and tariffs under legislation targeting Russia and major buyers of its energy exports, citing the national interest.
