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Trump strikes Russian diesel deal with Putin
Russia will provide 300,000 tons immediately, with more than 4 million tons in multiple deliveries to follow
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Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via Associated Press)
Key Takeaways:
- President Donald Trump said Oct. 9 that Russia agreed to supply the United States with diesel following his call with President Vladimir Putin.
- The deal reversed years of U.S. pressure on Moscow and sought to address high fuel prices before the midterm elections.
- Russia will initially deliver 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons thereafter and another 3 million tons later.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he has struck a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, a stunning reversal of years of U.S. pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine and an attempt to address high fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Trump said on social media Oct. 9 that he struck the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call in which he was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia. Instead, Trump announced that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.” Russia will deliver another 3 million tons “within a short period of time” after that, he wrote.
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Trump’s shocking announcement comes after he signed a sweeping Russia sanctions law last month that aimed at clamping down on Russia’s energy economy, among other areas, that fuel its war against Ukraine.
His move casts doubt on the likelihood of the White House imposing sanctions on Russia this month, given that a bipartisan law passed by Congress directs the administration to target the top importers of Russian oil and gas.
Trump, in his announcement, did not address the sanctions or Russia’s war but said, “Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.”
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about who was paying for the diesel from Russia and when the fuel being supplied under the agreement would become available. It also did not clarify whether subsequent supplies of Russian diesel set to come next month would be supplied before Election Day on Nov. 3.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev reposted the Treasury Department’s announcement on X on Oct. 9 and said that “Russia-US cooperation on diesel and energy will benefit the world.”
Russia-US cooperation on diesel and energy will benefit the world. 🌍
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) October 9, 2026
The law Trump signed last month envisions sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers and bans all new U.S. investment in Russia and the handling of sovereign debt.
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It also directed Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
The U.S. has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, when the Biden administration banned them because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Shortly after Trump made the announcement, the Treasury Department said it was immediately issuing a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to the global market.
Gas prices globally have surged as the war in Iran upends the energy sector. The national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was $6.23 on Oct. 9, according to AAA, after hitting a record $6.52 on Sept. 22.
