US President Donald Trump has announced a deal under which Russia will supply diesel fuel to American and global markets, a striking reversal of years of US pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The announcement followed a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, 9 October.
According to Trump, Russia will immediately deliver more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by a further 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes shortly afterwards. An additional three million tonnes are to follow within a short period. At the same time, his administration lifted sanctions on Russian fuel that had been designed to cut Moscow’s war revenues. The US has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022.
The move comes as fuel prices remain high worldwide because of the war involving Iran. The US national average for a gallon of diesel stood at 6.28 dollars, according to AAA, after a record of 6.52 dollars on 22 September. Observers see the deal as an attempt to ease prices ahead of the US midterm elections. It also contrasts sharply with a sweeping Russia sanctions law Trump signed only last month.
The Kremlin said Russia had confirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products. Putin, however, told Trump that an immediate resumption of trilateral peace talks with Ukraine was unlikely, citing Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow during last month’s parliamentary elections.
On the same day, negotiators from the US, Ukraine, Europe and NATO held around six hours of talks in Miami, including US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They discussed security guarantees, a post-war economic plan and a path to EU membership for Ukraine. Kyiv sharply criticised the diesel agreement, and US lawmakers also voiced concern, calling it a betrayal of Ukraine and of US security interests.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald (9–10 October 2026)
