Eight Russian tankers reportedly carrying over 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US
Eight Russian tankers are reportedly transporting more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the United States under an agreement between Volodymyr Putin and Donald Trump. Ukraine says the shipments highlight sanctions-enforcement concerns, with four tracked vessels sanctioned by the European Union, Britain and Ukraine.
Key points
- Eight tankers are carrying over 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to the US.
- Seven tankers listed the US as their destination; Athina M is also suspected of heading there.
- The tankers loaded cargo in Russian ports, mainly Primorsk.
- Leruo, Primorye, Manta and Feliks are sanctioned by the EU, Britain and Ukraine.
- Two Ukrainian groups said they were tracking 13 vessels that could deliver Russian diesel to US ports.
- The tankers are expected to arrive between 7 and 18 November.
- A 40,000-tonne cargo equals about 300,000 barrels, covering less than two hours of estimated US diesel consumption.
Why it matters
The shipments indicate that the Trump-Putin agreement has translated into actual cargo movements from Russian ports to the United States. The scale remains limited relative to US consumption, but four tracked tankers are already sanctioned by the European Union, Britain and Ukraine, raising questions about enforcement. The US also issued a temporary general licence for Russian diesel supplies and declined to apply the Lindsay Graham sanctions law.
What happened
Eight tankers loaded Russian diesel in October, mainly at Primorsk on the Baltic Sea, and are carrying more than 300,000 tonnes toward the United States. Seven named the US as their destination, while the Greek-flagged Athina M is also suspected of following the same route. A Malta-flagged tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes departed for New York on 23 October. Ukrainian groups are tracking 13 vessels that could deliver Russian diesel to US ports, with the eight reported tankers expected to arrive between 7 and 18 November.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on sanctions enforcement, continued loading activity at Russian ports and the volume relative to US consumption. It also highlights that Leruo, Primorye, Manta and Feliks are sanctioned by the European Union, Britain and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have characterised the US-Russian arrangement as a US weakness and a gift to Putin.
Background
The shipments followed Trump's announcement that he had agreed with Putin to supply thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel fuel. Trump said he had signed the Lindsay Graham sanctions law a month earlier but later declined to apply it to Russia. Russian officials said more cargoes would follow the tanker bound for New York and that Russian diesel exports could return to their previous volume by year-end.