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Tankers carrying Russian diesel abandon US routes after Trump-Putin deal

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 7 Nov, 13:11 · Archive

Tankers carrying Russian diesel destined for the US have changed course towards Brazil and the Mediterranean, undermining President Trump's October agreement with Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump's plan to import Russian diesel is facing significant obstacles after tankers initially bound for the US altered their routes. Trump announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin on 9 October to make over 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel available to US and global markets, with further shipments of 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes to follow. The deal was intended to address soaring US diesel prices, which have nearly doubled since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. However, nearly a month after the agreement, zero Russian diesel has reached the US.

At least two tankers that departed the Baltic port of Primorsk last month and initially declared destinations on the US East Coast have changed course. The Talisman and the Leruo, both sanctioned vessels, are now heading towards Brazil and the Mediterranean respectively, according to marine data company Kpler and vessel traffic site MarineTraffic.com. A third tanker, still in the North Atlantic, changed its destination from New York to 'for orders', leaving its unloading point unspecified.

US state and federal officials have warned that handling any Russian diesel shipments could bring legal repercussions, contributing to the apparent reluctance to proceed. The Trump administration's Treasury Department temporarily authorised Russian diesel transactions that would ordinarily be subject to US sanctions, but this has not resolved the logistical obstacles. Neither the White House nor the Kremlin has disclosed whether the agreement was put in writing, nor revealed prices, payment terms or participating companies.

Russian officials disputed reports of the course changes. On Thursday, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on social media that tankers destined for the US were still on course, describing the reports as 'fake'. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said details of shipments were a 'commercial' matter that could not be made public, adding that 'all diesel will find its buyers'.

Analysts have suggested the imports were unlikely to reduce US diesel prices significantly, given the scale of US demand. The deal also angered some US lawmakers and foreign allies, particularly in Ukraine and Europe, where it was widely criticised for reversing years of pressure on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

Tankers carrying Russian diesel abandon US routes after Trump-Putin deal
Image: France 24

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In this story: Donald Trump · Vladimir Putin · United States · Russia · Primorsk · Ukraine · Dmitry Peskov · Kirill Dmitriev

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log