Trump strikes major diesel deal with Russia in bid to lower US fuel prices ahead of midterms
The move comes as part of Trump’s effort to reduce domestic energy prices ahead of the crucial midterm elections in the US.
US President Donald Trump announced a significant energy supply agreement with Russia on Friday, potentially allowing Moscow to deliver nearly 5 million tons of diesel fuel to global markets. The deal, confirmed after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompted the US Treasury to grant a temporary license for the purchase of Russian diesel until April 7 next year.
This move is part of Trump's strategy to lower domestic fuel prices before the midterms, which his Republican party is expected to struggle in due to high inflation and affordability concerns. Trump announced that Russia would supply over 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with an additional 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million tons shortly after that.
However, the impact of this deal on Lindsey Graham's Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 remains unclear, as it was designed to cripple Russia's energy exports by imposing tariffs on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The announcement has raised questions about whether tariffs will be imposed, with some analysts skeptical about the deal's ability to reduce global energy prices.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism, stating that any easing of sanctions without a clear de-escalation agreement would be a weakness that benefits Russia.
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