OMM Newsroom
The first tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel under a deal between Moscow and Washington has departed for its intended recipients, the Kremlin said on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
“As I understand it, there have already been reports from the Ministry of Energy that the first tanker is, in fact, on its way to its intended recipients – its buyers. And from here on, these shipments will continue on a regular basis,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Two days earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia and the US were finalizing contracts for diesel supplies, with the first tanker scheduled to leave for the US on Thursday. He said it would carry 40,000 tons of Russian diesel and that further shipments would follow. Moscow would meet US demand within its available supply capacity, Novak added.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced a diesel supply agreement following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under the deal, Moscow agreed to “immediately supply” more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and global markets.
Trump said Russia would supply another 500,000 tons in November, followed by 1 million tons “immediately thereafter”. He said a further 3 million tons would be delivered “within a short period”, depending on the condition of Russian diesel refineries.
Putin said Russian diesel supplies to the US and global markets would benefit the world economy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the deal, warning that easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports could help finance Russia’s war effort.
