The first tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel will set sail for the US on 22 October, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. It has a displacement of 40,000 tonnes.
“And there will certainly be further shipments,” said Novak.
According to him, the final contract between Russia and the US for the supply of diesel is currently in its final stages, whilst the delivery routes are yet to be finalised. Novak suggested that, under this agreement, some other countries may also be able to receive Russian diesel fuel.
“We are resuming exports not at full capacity, but within the limits of our refineries’ capabilities. Therefore, we will only be able to return to the previous volume of supplies according to schedule by the end of the year. At that point, other countries will also be able to receive the volumes they used to receive,” said the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
On 18 October, the Turkish authorities announced their intention to purchase some of the diesel fuel that Russia will be supplying to world markets under the agreement between Moscow and Washington.
On 21 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the forthcoming dispatch of the first tanker during a meeting with US Presidential Envoy Steve Whitcroft.
In early October, it emerged that the leaders of the US and Russia had agreed on the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the American and global markets. Shortly afterwards, the US Treasury Department issued a general licence authorising transactions involving diesel fuel of Russian origin, which had previously been prohibited by US sanctions. The licence is valid until 7 April 2027.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised this decision. According to him, easing the pressure of sanctions without agreements on de-escalation will allow Russia to continue the war.
The US Institute for the Study of War described the US decision to strike a deal with Russia on diesel fuel as a unilateral concession to the Kremlin.