Three Tankers Carry Half Million Tonnes of Diesel to US

Drivers and businesses in the United States will see Russian diesel at their local stations as early as next month. Three tankers are currently moving across the Atlantic toward the US East Coast, carrying the first portion of a massive fuel shipment.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Friday that the three vessels are part of a deal to deliver 500,000 metric tonnes of fuel to global markets. This volume represents the entire allocation for October. Novak stated that the Russian Direct Investment Fund is providing significant support for this specific arrangement.

The trade agreement was announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month. Under the terms, Russia agrees to supply diesel to help lower fuel prices. In exchange, the US government has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel imports. This move reverses the previous restriction on buying Russian energy products.

Reuters identified one of the vessels as the Agioi Fanendes, a Malta-flagged medium-sized tanker. The ship is loaded with ultra-low sulphur diesel and is expected to dock in the United States on 7 November. This arrival marks the first physical delivery under the new waiver.

The fuel shipment is moving forward while diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue. The White House announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky. Both sides will halt military operations there starting 27 October. This pause allows for the delivery of aid and the evacuation of civilians.

Residents of Oleshky have faced severe shortages of food, water, and electricity since Russian forces took the city in February 2022. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city, with some surviving on limited rations. The ceasefire is intended to stabilize conditions in this southern Ukrainian location.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US agreed to hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. A US official noted that the three countries might meet again in a couple of weeks, potentially in Switzerland. Zelenskyy expressed hope that a meeting of national leaders would follow these technical discussions.