First Russian Diesel Under Trump-Putin Deal Heads to US, Ship Data Shows

The first Russian diesel cargo destined for the US under a surprise agreement between Moscow and President Donald Trump is aboard a tanker bound for New York, ship-tracking data showed Friday. The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel at Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22 and is expected to arrive in the US on November 7. The cargo marks the first US import of Russian petroleum products since former President Joe Biden banned such imports in 2022. Trump announced the deal this month to lower diesel prices ahead of November 3 midterm elections, waiving parts of a new sanctions law and threatening Europe with a US diesel export ban unless countries released more emergency reserves. Trump said on October 9 that Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, to the US and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons thereafter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed a first tanker had departed but did not specify its destination. Buyer and seller identities were not immediately known.