The first Russian diesel tanker under Trump’s deal with Putin is headed to New York, the first such shipment since 2023

The first Russian diesel tanker under an agreement signed by President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in New York, marking the first such shipment to the United States since July 2023, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The tanker will deliver 40,000 tons of diesel, equivalent to approximately 300,000 barrels, or about 7% of the daily diesel consumption in the U.S., which is around 4 million barrels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that regular supplies will continue following the initial shipment. The abrupt change in U.S. sanctions policy on Russia, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, is believed to be an attempt to address high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. Energy policy experts suggest that the import agreement is unlikely to significantly impact the high prices at the pump or other issues, as Russia's diesel production has been affected by repeated Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on its oil refineries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the decision as "a weak decision by strong partners." The agreement comes just weeks after Trump signed a sweeping sanctions package that initially included measures to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, though those were later put on hold.