Trump Strikes Unexpected Deal for Diesel with Russia

October 10, 2026 – 11:45am

Save

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

No gift articles left

You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.

Close

AAA

Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that he has made a deal to import diesel from Russia, marking a surprising shift after years of American pressure on Moscow regarding its actions in Ukraine and as part of an effort to tackle rising fuel prices before the upcoming US midterm elections.

On Friday, Trump took to social media to reveal that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call where they were supposed to discuss a suspected plague case in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, pictured in Alaska last year. Bloomberg

Instead, Trump shared that Russia would begin supplying over 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, with another 500,000 tonnes set for November and an additional million tonnes “immediately thereafter.” Following that, he noted that Russia would provide another three million tonnes “within a short period of time.”

This unexpected announcement sharply contrasts with a comprehensive sanctions law against Russia that Trump signed just last month aimed at restricting oil and gas revenues tied to Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by calling the new agreement “a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners,” according to statements released by the Ukrainian embassy in Washington.

Trump revealed this deal while his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were meeting with Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss plans for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump’s decision “weak”. Bloomberg

“I believe our team is simply being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other,” Zelensky said.

In Sydney, Energy Minister Chris Bowen stated Australia does not want Putin profiting from the war in Iran and will continue efforts to block Russian oil from entering the country.

“This is not a policy we are implementing, not a policy we will implement, not one we need, not one we want,” Bowen told reporters on Saturday.

Related Article

“Our position about the Putin regime’s immoral and illegal approach has been crystal clear. We stand with the people of Ukraine. We stand with freedom in Ukraine and the rights of Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian nation. That is the Australian government’s position. That won’t change. What other countries do is a matter for them.”

This action by Trump raises questions about whether new sanctions will be imposed by the White House on Russia since Congress recently passed legislation targeting countries buying Russian oil and gas.

The Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer along with Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump’s announcement as betraying Ukraine alongside European allies and jeopardizing American national security.

“Enough is enough,” they wrote. “The president must end his war with Iran instead of funding Russia’s war machine.”

The global fuel prices have surged due to ongoing disruptions caused by conflicts involving Iran. While diesel future prices fell slightly after Friday’s news broke, AAA reported that the national average price per gallon for diesel remained high at $6.28 after peaking at $6.52 on September 22.

Fuel prices remain high in the United States and across the world. AP

Trump did not mention sanctions or address issues related to Russia’s military actions but emphasized: “Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.”

Later on his way out from White House heading towards a campaign rally, Trump expressed gratitude for securing this deal saying: “I want to thank President Putin. To be honest with you, we have massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and it’s diesel which is what we want. So thank you,” while avoiding questions regarding Zelensky’s criticism shouted at him.

The White House did not respond right away when asked who would be covering costs associated with Russian diesel or when it would start arriving.

Related Article h2 > A statement from Putin released bythe Kremlinon Friday mentionedthat duringtheircallheand Trumpfocusedonsolutionsforresolvingthe Ukrainiancrisisanddiscussedvarious aspectsabout Iranandbilateralrelations. Russia confirmedits readinessto supplyoilandoilproducts tothe Americanandglobalmarkets,”Putin said.”I amconfidentthatthiswillhaveapositiveimpactontheentire globaleconomy.” The UShasnotimported Russianoilorgassince2022when President Biden bannedimportsdueto Moscow’sinvasionof Ukraineaccordingto USEnergy Information Administration.

Related Article h2 > Shortlyafter Trump announcedon Friday, the USTreasury Departmentsaiditwouldissueatemporarylicenseallowing Russiandieseltobesuppliedtothemarket. Thelicensemeansthatsanctionswon’tapplyuntil April2027fordeliveriesof Russian dieselloadedontotankersstartingfrom Friday. Theseextensionshighlighthowfalloutfromthe Iranwarhasincreased Moscow’scapacitytoprofitfromitsenergyexports. AP p > Getanotedirectlyfromourforeigncorrespondentsonwhat’smakingheadlinesaroundtheworld. Signupforourweekly Whatintheworldnewsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items.>> Remove items from your saved list to add more. > No gift articles left > You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the first of every month. >CloseBrittany Busch isafederalpoliticsreporterfor The Ageand The Sydney Morning Herald. Connectviaemail. h2data-pb-type=’hi’class=’sc84567ec11we WOF’>Fromourpartners<h2data-pb-type='hi'..

<a href=https://www. theage. com. au/world/north-america/trump-strikes-deal-with-putin-for-russian-diesel-20261010-p614dn. htmlsource link`