Russian diesel tanker sets sail for U.S. despite Ukraine's protests

The Kremlin confirmed Friday that the first tanker of Russian diesel under a new import agreement has set sail for the United States, two weeks after President Donald Trump announced the deal with President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The shipment totals 40,000 tons, or about 300,000 barrels, and is expected to arrive in New York on Nov. 7, marking the first Russian diesel delivery to the U.S. since July 2023. The policy reversal aims to address high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections, though experts say it will barely impact U.S. consumption of roughly 4 million barrels daily. Ukraine condemned the decision, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling it "a weak decision by strong partners." The agreement reverses recent U.S. sanctions on Russian energy, and follows Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries that caused fuel shortages, which have since eased.