Moscow Hails Trump Diesel Deal, Promises Direct Exports to U.S.

Oct. 14, 2026 Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov A diesel supply deal with the United States will boost Russia’s economy and include direct exports to the U.S. market, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday. “Without a doubt, this is a positive signal for our economy,” Novak told reporters on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow, according to the state-run news agency TASS. He said the agreement would bolster oil production and refining while generating tax revenue for Russia’s state budget. Russian state agencies and oil companies are now finalizing supply contracts with U.S. counterparts, Novak said. “In accordance with the agreements, supplies will go to world markets, as well as the U.S. directly,” he said. He added that Russia aims to restore monthly diesel exports to 3.5 million metric tons by the end of 2026, bringing its share of the global market above 10%. Under the terms announced by U.S. President Donald Trump last Friday, Russia agreed to immediately release more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel onto global markets, followed by an additional 500,000 metric tons in November. The initial 300,000 metric tons (2.25 million barrels) is less than a day's supply for the U.S. ​transportation sector alone, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, which shows daily use of around 2.94 million barrels. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a license authorizing transactions involving Russian diesel through April 7, 2027. The deal has sparked pushback from European and Ukrainian officials, who argued that unlocking Russian energy revenues directly fuels the Kremlin’s war effort. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was closely monitoring signs of shifting policy in Washington, though he cautioned that it was too early to draw any “systemic conclusions.” Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the diesel deal could pave the way for broader Russian-U.S. economic and investment cooperation. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: United States , Oil , Business , Exports , Trump 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 Russia Will Consider Partial Lifting of Diesel Export Ban in Case of Overproduction, Novak Says Novak said that the situation with Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure has remained "tense." 2 Min read Chevron Weighs Purchase of Lukoil’s Overseas Assets After U.S. Eases Restrictions – Reuters Chevron is assessing the purchase of Lukoil assets that overlap with its own interests, Reuters’ sources said. 2 Min read U.S. Oilfield Services Company Weatherford Expands Russia Operations Despite Sanctions – FT The Financial Times identified roughly 100 job postings by Weatherford in Russia since late February, when new U.S. sanctions came into effect. 2 Min read Russian Market Slides Amid Global Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs Among the biggest losers on Monday was En+ Group, the parent company of aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska’s Rusal, which fell 9.76%. 2 Min read