| HEADLINE |
|
Putin agrees to supply diesel to US, global markets: Trump
Published : Saturday, 10 October, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Observer Online Report
US President Donald Trump has said Russia has agreed to supply large quantities of diesel to the United States and global markets following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has also eased war-related sanctions on Russia as part of his efforts to bring down fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections.
The United States and its allies have imposed successive rounds of sanctions on Moscow since Russia launched its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Trump’s move, calling it “undignified” and “weak”.
The announcement came weeks before the crucial US midterm elections, with Trump’s Republican Party facing the risk of losing control of Congress amid voter dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living.
Petrol and diesel prices in the United States have risen since late February, when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy transportation, following US and Israeli strikes targeting Tehran.
In a social media post on Friday, October 9, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the United States and global markets. Russia would supply 500,000 tonnes in November, followed by one million tonnes, he added.
Trump also said Russia had promised to supply even larger quantities of fuel in the future.
“Reducing fuel prices for Americans, especially our great farmers, ranchers and truck drivers, is my highest priority,” Trump wrote.
The Kremlin also said Russia had reiterated its readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to the United States and global markets.
Zelensky expressed anger over the decision, telling reporters: “This is certainly not an honest act, certainly undignified for our partners and, in my view, a weak decision.”
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department issued a temporary licence on Friday allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to global markets until April 2027.
Since late February, the average price of regular petrol in the United States has risen by more than 46 percent to $4.37 per gallon. Diesel prices have climbed 67 percent to $6.28 per gallon over the same period.
Trump has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for the rising fuel prices. However, the US-Israeli war with Iran has emerged as the main disruption to global energy supplies.
The announcement came as Ukrainian and US negotiators met in Miami on Friday in a fresh effort to break the deadlock in the conflict.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the two sides had held constructive discussions on possible ways to de-escalate and end the war with Russia before winter.
Witkoff, a longtime Trump ally, and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv last month. The Miami meeting followed those visits as Washington sought to revive negotiations that have made little progress.
Loading...
Loading...
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
