Trump Says Russia Will Ship Diesel as U.S. Temporarily Authorizes Imports
Donald Trump said on October 9 that Russia would supply diesel to U.S. and global markets after a call with Vladimir Putin. Separately, the U.S. Treasury issued a temporary authorization for transactions involving Russian-origin diesel. Buyers, delivery dates and the effect on prices had not been confirmed.
A temporary authorization limited to diesel
On October 9, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Russia-related General License 135. The document authorizes transactions related to the sale, delivery, offloading and importation—including into the United States—of Russian-origin diesel through 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 7, 2027. This is a temporary, product-specific authorization, not a general end to U.S. sanctions on Russia.
The United States prohibited Russian oil imports after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The new license arrives amid high fuel costs and a broader energy shock linked to the war with Iran. It also sits alongside recent U.S. efforts to increase economic pressure on Moscow over its war against Ukraine.
Announced volumes are not confirmed shipments
Trump said Russia had agreed to provide more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons afterward. He also described a possible additional 3 million tons, contingent on the condition of Russian refineries. These volumes are Trump’s announced terms; public sources reviewed do not independently establish that the fuel has shipped or that commercial contracts are complete.
Reuters and The Associated Press reported Trump’s announcement and the Treasury action. The Kremlin said Putin and Trump had discussed the Ukraine war, Iran and bilateral ties, and that Russia was ready to supply oil and petroleum products to U.S. and global markets. Its statement did not publicly confirm Trump’s full shipment schedule.
The White House and Moscow have not publicly detailed who will buy the fuel, its price, shipping arrangements or when specific cargoes will arrive. It is also unclear whether all announced quantities can be supplied, given Russia’s refinery constraints, or how much the license will affect U.S. prices. Authorization to import is not evidence that a shipment has taken place.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move. Analysts quoted by Reuters questioned whether the stated quantity would meaningfully ease prices. Reuters reported U.S. diesel at $6.28 a gallon on Thursday, according to AAA.
The license opens a defined legal route for Russian diesel to enter U.S. commerce while the war in Ukraine continues. Any additional Russian export revenue or effect on U.S. fuel costs would depend on actual deliveries and market conditions.
Sources
- Reuters, “Trump says Russia to supply diesel to US and global market” — October 9, 2026, 3:43 p.m. UTC.
- Associated Press, “Trump strikes deal with Putin for Russian diesel” — October 9, 2026 (afternoon U.S. update).
- U.S. Treasury/OFAC, Russia-related General License 135 — issued October 9, 2026; exact publication time not listed. Read the license.
Comments
Post a Comment