Russia will send its first diesel tanker to the U.S. under the Trump-Putin fuel deal

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the first tanker carrying Russian diesel for the United States will leave port on Thursday with 40,000 tons of fuel. Novak told reporters in St. Petersburg that Russia and the U.S. are finalizing contracts for the supplies.

The contract-signing process is nearing completion, Novak said. "Further shipments will follow, of course. As agreed upon by the two leaders, we will satisfy the needs of the United States to the extent of our capabilities," he said.

Novak did not say which port the cargo will depart from, according to Reuters.

Novak also said Russia's diesel exports are recovering in line with what its refineries can handle, and that Russia is not fully restoring exports at this stage. Other countries will receive their previous volumes once Russia returns to full export levels, which could happen by the end of the year, he said. That depends on how much fuel Russia can supply beyond U.S. needs.

Russia scrapped the restriction it had placed on its own diesel shipments abroad on Oct. 9, according to Reuters. The ban was meant to ease fuel shortages at home after Ukrainian drones struck its refineries. Russia lifted it once it struck an agreement with President Donald Trump.

At a meeting in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for easing the curbs on exports, according to Reuters. Putin said the first tankers will depart within two to three days and that several vessels are being prepared to sail one after another. He said the financing still needs to be worked out. Putin also said worldwide diesel prices fell by 5% to 6% after the agreement, according to Reuters.

Trump announced the diesel arrangement on Truth Social earlier this month. He said Russia would begin with 300,000 metric tons, move to 500,000 tons during November and then ship 1 million tons. A further 3 million tons would follow at a later date, depending on the condition of Russian refineries.

Seven senators, including four Republicans, have criticized the deal. They argue it violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports and say the White House never provided the formal justification the statute requires.