Trump Lifts Sanctions for Russian Diesel to Lower Fuel Prices

President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9, 2026, to import millions of tons of Russian diesel fuel into the United States and global markets. The deal aims to combat surging fuel prices—which reached a national average of $6.53 per gallon in September—driven by a U.S. war with Iran, the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.

Under the terms, Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly thereafter. An additional 3 million tons may be delivered depending on the condition of Russian refineries. To facilitate this, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License No. 135, lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7, 2027, while maintaining sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and Ministry of Finance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the move as a "weak decision," arguing that the funds would serve as an investment in Russia's war effort. He further claimed that concurrent peace negotiations in Miami were used as a "smokescreen" for the sanctions relief. Domestically, Democratic lawmakers characterized the deal as a desperate political maneuver to protect Republican interests ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The agreement was announced shortly after Ukrainian drone barrages forced the closure of Moscow airports, disrupting Putin's return from a summit in Turkmenistan.