President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply millions of tons of diesel fuel to global markets, saying the arrangement would help lower fuel prices that have remained near record highs ahead of November's midterm elections. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he had concluded a "highly successful discussion" with Putin and that Russia would immediately begin shipping diesel fuel into global markets. "It was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter," Trump wrote.
He added that, based on refinery capacity, Russia would eventually deliver another 3 million tons of diesel fuel and predicted the move would rapidly lower prices. "Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!" Trump wrote. A White House official told Newsweek on Friday that the Treasury Department had issued a general license allowing Russian diesel to reach global markets.
In a statement, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it was issuing Russia-related General License 135, authorizing transactions involving the "sale, delivery, offloading, and importation of diesel fuel of Russian Federation origin" at Trump's direction. The announcement follows repeated comments by Trump linking high diesel prices to refinery disruptions in Russia and elsewhere. Earlier this week, he argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities had contributed to tightening diesel supplies and rising fuel costs.
The president also linked the announcement to what he described as "TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz" and reiterated that "Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon." Newsweek reached out to the Energy Department and Russian embassy on Friday for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to criticize the announcement Friday, arguing that easing pressure on Russia without a broader de-escalation agreement would strengthen Moscow's ability to continue the war. "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world," Zelensky wrote on X Friday.
"Russia will 'repay' the diesel with further terror and perfidy." He also argued that "allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged." Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and frequent critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, also criticized the move. "We need lower diesel prices for American farmers, ranchers and consumers, but buying Russian fuel is the wrong answer," Bacon wrote on X on Friday. He argued Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries have targeted facilities that "fuel and finance Putin's illegal invasion" and said Congress had previously passed sanctions legislation aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow rather than easing it.
The announcement came as the White House prepared additional actions aimed at lowering diesel prices and increasing fuel supplies. Speaking earlier Friday at a White House event, Trump teased what he called a major development on diesel. "We have a big announcement coming up on diesel," Trump said.
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