Seven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are sailing towards the United States as part of a contentious supply deal between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, but it is uncertain whether the vessels will be able to unload amid a political row over the legality of the shipments.
The tankers were tracked by the environmental group Greenpeace, which said its monitoring was the most complete yet after earlier reports counted three vessels that had left Russian terminals in the Baltic Sea. The shipments are the first phase of the deal announced on 9 October, in which Putin agreed to supply the US with 1.8 million tonnes of diesel, starting with 300,000 tonnes immediately. Trump announced a six-month waiver on existing sanctions to allow the shipments.
Greenpeace Ukraine energy specialist Shaun Burnie argued the location of the tankers meant they should be halted by Congress or local US authorities. “Instead of rewarding Russia for its vile war against Ukraine, there needs to be more punitive sanctions against Russia,” he said. “These shipments can be stopped.”
A group of US lawmakers, led by a handful of Democratic senators, has warned banks and port authorities that they could face congressional investigations and other legal action if they handle the Russian diesel. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill described the deal as “corrupt and illegal” and said she was looking at how to prevent the diesel from being unloaded if an attempt was made to do so in her state.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the agreement, saying “backroom deals” gave Putin more chances on the battlefield. The Kremlin has restricted publication of information about oil exports in an apparent attempt to evade international sanctions.
Trump has argued the deal would lower diesel prices in the US, but prices have risen from $6.28 to $6.33 per gallon since the agreement was announced, according to the American Automobile Association. The President’s popularity has waned as fuel prices have climbed since he attacked Iran in the spring.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine. On Thursday, 14 people were reported killed when a Russian drone struck a crowded train platform in the central city of Dnipro. Five others were reported killed in daytime strikes in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk. The state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia said a high-speed jet-powered drone hit as a commuter train was preparing to depart Dnipro’s main station.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The shipments test the limits of US sanctions policy and could provide financial support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Fuel prices are a key issue ahead of next Tuesday's midterm elections, and the deal carries political risk for Trump.
- The legal and political challenges may set a precedent for future sanctions waivers.
Background
The US and its allies imposed waves of economic sanctions on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump has shifted policy this autumn, seeking closer ties with Putin even as the war continues. The diesel deal grants a six-month waiver to allow shipments, reversing years of sanctions on Russian oil. The war is ongoing, with recent deadly drone strikes in Ukrainian cities.
Key Perspectives
- Greenpeace Ukraine (Shaun Burnie): Argues the shipments should be stopped. “Instead of rewarding Russia for its vile war against Ukraine, there needs to be more punitive sanctions against Russia.”
- US Democratic lawmakers: Warned banks and port authorities they could face congressional investigations and legal action if they handle the Russian diesel.
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill: Described the deal as “corrupt and illegal” and is looking into preventing unloading in her state.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Denounced the agreement, saying “backroom deals” give Putin more chances on the battlefield.
- President Donald Trump: Argued the deal would help lower diesel prices in the US.
What to Watch
- Whether the tankers can find a US port willing to unload given legal warnings from lawmakers.
- The outcome of next Tuesday's midterm elections, which may shift congressional control and increase scrutiny of the deal.
- Further White House efforts to encourage US firms to take the oil despite legal risks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedSeven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are sailing towards the US.Business | The Guardian: “Seven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are now sailing towards the US”
- Partly supportedThe Trump-Putin deal reverses sanctions.Business | The Guardian: “reversing years of sanctions on Russia oil”
- SupportedLawmakers warn of consequences for handling the Russian diesel.Business | The Guardian: “warned banks and port authorities that they could face congressional investigations and other legal action if they handled the Russian diesel.”
- SupportedIt is uncertain whether the tankers will be able to unload amid a political row over the shipments’ legality.Business | The Guardian: “though it is uncertain if the vessels will be able to unload amid a political row about the legality of the shipments.”
- SupportedPutin agreed to supply the US with 1.8 million tonnes of diesel.Business | The Guardian: “Putin agreed to supply the US with 1.8m tonnes of diesel”
- SupportedThe deal started with 300,000 tonnes immediately.Business | The Guardian: “starting with 300,000 tonnes immediately.”
- SupportedTrump announced a six-month waiver on existing sanctions to allow the shipments.Business | The Guardian: “Trump announced a six-month waiver on existing sanctions to allow the shipments to proceed.”
- SupportedGreenpeace Ukraine energy specialist Shaun Burnie said, “Instead of rewarding Russia for its vile war against Ukraine, there needs to be more punitive sanctions against Russia.”Business | The Guardian: “Shaun Burnie, an energy specialist with Greenpeace Ukraine, argued that now the location of the tankers could be plotted on a map, the shipments should be halted by Congress or local authorities in the US. “Instead of rewarding Russia for its vile war against Ukraine, there needs to be more punitive sanctions against Russia,” he said.”
- SupportedNew Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill described the deal as “corrupt and illegal.”Business | The Guardian: “Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, said she was looking at how to prevent the diesel from being unloaded, if an attempt was made to do so in her state. She described the deal as “corrupt and illegal”.”
- SupportedUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “backroom deals” gave Putin more chances on the battlefield.Business | The Guardian: ““Backroom deals” gave Putin more chances on the battlefield, he said.”
- SupportedFourteen people were reported killed when a Russian drone struck a crowded train platform in Dnipro on Thursday.Business | The Guardian: “In Ukraine, 14 people were reported killed on Thursday morning when a Russian drone struck a crowded train platform in the central city of Dnipro.”
- SupportedFive others were reported killed in daytime strikes in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk.Business | The Guardian: “Five others were reported killed in daytime strikes in two other cities, Chernihiv and Kremenchuk.”