First Russian diesel tanker heads to the US – criticism from Kyiv
Moscow is sending 40,000 tonnes of diesel to the US, Deputy PM Novak says. It follows a deal with Trump; Zelenskyy called it a sign of “weakness.”
Symbolic image · Photo: Germash19 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Russia is delivering diesel to the United States for the first time. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak had said the first tanker, carrying 40,000 tonnes of diesel, would be dispatched “tomorrow” and that the paperwork was nearing completion, Reuters reported. On Wednesday, Russian state media said the first shipment had been dispatched, according to CBS News.
US President Donald Trump announced a deal on October 10 under which Russia is to supply millions of tons of diesel over several months; to do so, he lifted a ban. At his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, US special envoy Steve Witkoff thanked him for the pledged supplies. According to ABC News, the diesel is meant to help lower prices for American farmers and truckers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the deal a sign of “weakness.” Fuel prices are high because of the Iran war and play a major role in the campaign ahead of the November 3 congressional elections; according to an AP analysis, high petrol and diesel prices have contributed to a backlash against Republicans.