Fuel deal gone too far? Trump wants 4.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia: Can Moscow deliver what it promised?
Trump said Russia would supply the United States with up to 4.8 million tonnes of diesel, about 35.8 million barrels, in tranches beginning with more than 300,000 tonnes, following a telephone call with Putin. Russian diesel exports have averaged around 550,000 barrels per day since July, down from about 1 million barrels per day in the first half of 2026, and the IEA says Russian diesel output has fallen by about 30%. The US Treasury issued a temporary licence under which sanctions will not apply until April 2027 to deliveries of Russian diesel loaded onto tankers as of Friday.
Why it matters: The arrangement tests the sanctions theme directly, since Washington is easing restrictions on Russian fuel to address domestic diesel prices while Moscow gains an outlet for supplies its refineries still produce.