Symbolic imageKremlin says diesel exports restart as Germany rejects US asset plan
Russia says diesel exports have restarted under its deal with Trump. Germany's chancellor rejects a reported US plan to move frozen Russian assets.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, 15 October, that Russian diesel has begun entering global markets, which will stabilise them only in part. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russian companies can ship at any moment while commercial terms are still being negotiated. Trump announced the deal on 9 October; The American Conservative reports a US licence through 7 April 2027 and says Ukraine's negotiators left Miami without attending the second day of talks.
Frozen assets plan rejected
The Financial Times reported that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed in Miami on 9 October to move part of the frozen Russian assets to a US-controlled structure, and that the Europeans refused. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the assets should stay frozen in Europe: 'That is our affair.' Peskov said Moscow knows nothing of the plan.
Berlin objects to Russia's return
At the G20 finance meeting in Bangkok, German finance minister Lars Klingbeil said he sees US attempts to bring Russia back onto the international stage. He said he would not accept Russia at the G20 table as if nothing had happened.
Other opinions
Peskov calls Europe's stance on the deal 'pernicious'; Le Monde says it violates two US laws, while The American Conservative calls its economic effect limited.