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 up to 4.8 million tons of Russian diesel into the United States and global markets. The deal aims to combat surging fuel prices—which reached national averages over $6 per gallon—driven by a U.S. war with Iran, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. The supply plan begins with an immediate 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly thereafter, with a final 3 million tons conditional on refinery capacity.

To facilitate the shipments, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135, lifting sanctions on Russian diesel imports until April 7, 2027. This move reverses a ban in place since 2022 and occurs shortly before the November 3 midterm elections. During a phone call, Putin informed Trump that immediate peace talks with Ukraine are unlikely, citing Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and polling stations during recent elections.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the accord as a "gift to Putin" and an "investment in a war that must be ended," arguing that the funds will fuel Russia's military campaign. The Government of the United Kingdom also criticized the move, pledging to maintain its own strict sanctions regime. U.S. critics, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, labeled the decision a betrayal of national security and a political maneuver to benefit Republicans before the elections.