Three tankers carrying Russian diesel fuel, including two vessels reportedly subject to Western sanctions, are heading toward the U.S. as President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume fuel shipments. The tankers—identified as the Agioi Fanendes, Leruo and Talisman, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler—left Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk between October 16 and 22 and are expected to reach the U.S. East Coast between November 7 and 11, as per vessel-tracking data reported by on Wednesday.
The Agioi Fanendes has been identified as heading toward New York, while the destinations of the other two vessels have been described more generally as the Atlantic Coast. According to Kpler, the three ships are carrying a combined 924,000 barrels of diesel, which is approximately one-third of the U.S. transportation sector's daily consumption. The shipments follow an agreement announced by Trump this month to allow Russian diesel back onto international markets in an effort to reduce fuel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The White House referred Newsweek to the president’s remarks when asked for comment on the agreement. The deal has prompted criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and members of Trump's own Republican Party, who argue that easing restrictions could benefit Moscow while its war against Ukraine continues. The tankers are in waters around the United Kingdom and northern Europe, according to MarineTraffic data reviewed on Wednesday.
The first vessel identified in reports is the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, which loaded approximately 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Primorsk on October 22. According to , citing LSEG shipping data, the tanker initially listed New York as its destination and was expected to arrive on November 7. However, Lloyd's List reported on October 26 that the vessel was idling off Skagen, Denmark, and later tracking information indicated that its destination had changed to "for orders," leaving its final destination uncertain.
Coast and Atlantic region. Newsweek has approached the Agioi Fanendes ship manager, Eastmed, for comment via email. The second vessel, the Leruo, is a Sierra Leone-flagged oil products tanker that loaded diesel at Primorsk on October 16.
The vessel was reportedly sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union last year over its transportation of Russian cargoes and practices including disabling location technology, ship-to-ship transfers and breaches of the G7 oil price cap. Shipping reports have identified its intended destination as the Atlantic Coast, with an estimated arrival around November 11. It is in the North Sea, according to MarineTraffic data, although its live position has not been updated for four days.
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