First Shipment of Russian Diesel Expected to Depart for the United States Under Trump Deal

Oct. 21, 2026 REUTERS / Manon Cruz A Russian tanker carrying the first shipment of diesel to the United States will leave port on Thursday as part of an energy deal made between President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday. “The first tanker, as planned, will leave the port tomorrow on [Oct.] 22 for the U.S.,” Novak told reporters, adding that the vessel’s total “displacement” amounts to 40,000 metric tons. He did not specify how much diesel was aboard the ship. Trump announced the diesel deal on Oct. 9, saying that Russia would “immediately” supply 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons thereafter. The following day, Russia partially lifted its diesel export ban — first introduced in the summer due to domestic shortages. Most experts agree that the agreement will have little effect on global energy markets in the near future. The 300,000 tons scheduled to hit the U.S. market this month cover only three-quarters of the country’s daily consumption, according to calculations by The Guardian. Novak said Wednesday that subsequent shipments “will satisfy all the U.S. requirements within our capacity.” Deliveries to other international buyers, he added, will depend on how quickly Russian refineries can restore output following Ukrainian drone strikes. “If, according to the schedule, we can reach full volume only by the end of the year, then other countries will receive the volumes they previously received,” Novak said. Turkey’s energy minister said this weekend that Ankara had negotiated to secure a share of the Russian diesel under the Trump agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies have criticized the U.S.-Russian agreement, arguing that it will bolster the Russian economy and strain transatlantic relations. By most accounts, the diesel deal is designed to boost support for Republicans going into the midterm elections in early November. Polls show that surging energy costs in the United States, largely triggered by the war in Iran, are driving voter frustration and hurting the chances of Trump allies being elected to office. Read more about: Energy , United States Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Did the Mideast Conflict Just Rescue Russia’s War Budget? Despite the surge in Russian oil prices, analysts caution that this boost in revenues is unlikely to fully reverse Russia’s economic woes. 4 Min read U.S. Senate Passes Bill Banning Russian Uranium Imports “America’s dangerous reliance on Russian enriched uranium must come to an end — our national security depends on it,” said the bill’s co-sponsor... 1 Min read Non-Renewable Energy Saved Texas' Frozen Wind Turbines, Putin Says “They had to use methods that are a far cry from environmental protection to warm the windmills up,” the longtime green energy critic said. Russian Energy Exports to U.S. Set 8-Year Record in October Russia ramped up its oil and petroleum sales to the U.S. after Washington imposed sanctions on Venezuela last year.