Tanker Carrying Russian Diesel Abandons US-Bound Route as Trump-Putin Deal Stalls

The Agioi Fanendes, the final tanker bringing Russian diesel to the United States under a Trump-Putin agreement, reversed course approximately 730 kilometers from New York City. Departing from Primorsk on October 22, the vessel carried a cargo of 40,000 metric tons of fuel, initially scheduled to reach New York by November 7. However, upon its journey, the tanker altered its destination to “for orders.”

Its Greek owner, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, maintains that the ship is "proceeding for orders as the discharging port is not confirmed yet." The Agioi Fanendes is reported to have begun moving away from the U.S. East Coast on November 9, according to Bloomberg, based on ship-tracking data. Following initial authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department, the deal aimed to reduce fuel prices prior to the U.S. midterm elections.

The agreement facilitated the dispatch of four Russian tankers. Despite the Democrats' victory in the elections, reports emerged on November 5 that the Talisman and the Leruo also changed course. By November 7, the Beast tanker remained off the British coastline. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that U.S. purchases of Russian diesel, including the tankers’ routes, were unrelated to the U.S. elections.

Meduza, dedicated to transparency in its use of artificial intelligence, reports that this article was authored by a human journalist, translated from Russian using an AI model adhering to strict editorial standards. Each draft undergoes review by a Meduza editor before publication. Corrections can be reported to reports@meduza.io.