Trump and Putin Agree to Import Russian Diesel Fuel

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement on Friday for Russia to supply nearly 5 million tons of diesel fuel to American and global markets. The deal begins with an immediate shipment of over 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly thereafter. A final 3 million tons will be supplied depending on refinery conditions.

To facilitate the imports, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a temporary general license valid until April 7, 2027. Bessent defended the move as a means to lower diesel prices for Americans, asserting that the administration will use all available legal authorities to execute the deal. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that production volumes are sufficient to meet both domestic demand and the specified export volumes.

This agreement follows the recent signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was designed to cripple Russian energy earnings. Bessent dismissed claims that the act or other existing legislation prohibits the current diesel purchase.