Russian diesel tanker heads to U.S. for first time since Trump-Putin fuel deal

A Russian diesel tanker departed Friday for the United States, marking the first such shipment since President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release more fuel into the global market. The vessel, named Agioi Fanendes, left Primorsk and is bound for New York. The shipment follows Trump's easing of sanctions on Russia, reversing years of policy despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, in an apparent bid to lower energy prices ahead of the Midterm elections. The tanker carries 298,000 barrels of diesel, expected to arrive November 10, shortly after the elections. The cargo represents less than a day's worth of U.S. diesel demand, which stands at 3.8 million barrels daily, and analysts say its impact will likely be limited. Diesel prices have soared 78% this year, from $3.55 to $6.32 per gallon, amid supply disruptions from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.