President Donald Trump said Friday that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring Russian diesel to the United States ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump said Russia would initially supply more than 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November, one million tons soon afterward and another three million tons later.
The announcement follows a Russia sanctions law Trump signed last month targeting Moscow’s energy sector over its war in Ukraine. The United States has banned Russian oil and gas imports since 2022. After Trump’s announcement, the Treasury Department issued a license exempting shipments of Russian diesel loaded onto tankers by Friday from sanctions until April 2027. The White House did not immediately explain how the fuel would be purchased or when it would reach U.S. consumers.
Trump said lower prices for farmers, ranchers and truckers were his priority. The national average diesel price was $6.23 a gallon Friday, according to AAA, down from a record $6.52 on September 22. Energy prices have risen amid the war in Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the arrangement, saying it would provide Russia with resources to prolong the war. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a sponsor of the sanctions legislation, also condemned the decision. The announcement came as Trump’s representatives met Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss a proposal to end the conflict. The Kremlin said the leaders also discussed Ukraine, Iran and bilateral relations.
Analysts questioned whether the shipments would significantly lower prices, noting that redirected Russian supplies could displace other buyers. Russia has restricted diesel exports since July amid supply pressures. A Russian official said export restrictions would be lifted early and that deliveries to the United States could begin in October. It remains unclear whether the planned supplies would arrive before election day.