With diesel prices near record highs ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, President Donald Trump announced a plan to import millions of tons of diesel from Russia. Trump stated on social media that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to supply an initial 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, followed by additional shipments totaling over four million tons. The deal marks a sudden shift in U.S. foreign policy, relaxing financial pressure on Moscow despite ongoing conflicts and recently passed sanctions.
The decision comes as high domestic fuel prices continue to strain consumers, with U.S. diesel averaging $6.23 per gallon following a record peak of $6.52 in late September. Energy markets have faced severe global disruption due to the war in Iran. To enable the agreement, the Treasury Department issued a temporary general license protecting specific Russian diesel deliveries from U.S. sanctions until April 2027. The action effectively eases restrictions that had blocked Russian fuel imports since 2022 and bypasses broader sanctions signed into law just last month.
The agreement sparked immediate backlash from domestic lawmakers and international partners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move as "a weak decision" that helps finance Russia's military campaign, pointing out that the deal was announced while U.S. envoys were meeting with Ukrainian officials. Congressional critics also accused the White House of compromising foreign policy commitments. In response, Trump maintained that lowering fuel costs for American farmers, ranchers, and truckers remains his highest priority, while Putin stated that supplying Russian energy would positively impact the global economy.