Symbolic imageUS lifts sanctions on Russian diesel after Trump-Putin call
Trump says Russia will ship diesel to the US and world markets, and Washington has eased sanctions to allow it. Zelensky calls it an investment in war.
After a phone call with Putin, Trump said on Friday, 9 October, that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and world markets, then 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million shortly after. The US Treasury issued a temporary licence for Russian diesel valid until 7 April 2027, and the Kremlin confirmed the deal. Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the cooperation.
Prices and midterms
Diesel is near record highs before the 3 November midterms. Wholesale diesel in New York harbour fell about 4.5 per cent, but analysts told the FT and Reuters the volumes will not greatly lower prices.
Kyiv objects
Zelensky called the deal an investment in a war that must be ended and offered mutual de-escalation: no Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries if Russia stops hitting Ukraine's energy sector. A senior Ukrainian official told the FT the strikes will continue, and the UK said it will keep up sanctions pressure on Russia.