Russia to send first diesel shipment to U.S. on Thursday under Trump-brokered deal with Putin

Russia will send the first 40,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. on Thursday under an agreement brokered by President Donald Trump, Russia's deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, according to the Vedomosti news ​outlet. 

The agreement lifts sanctions against Russia to facilitate bringing more energy to markets and bringing down prices. Moscow lifted a self-imposed diesel export ban on Oct. 9, which was implemented to address shortfalls caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries, Reuters reported. 

Trump announced the agreement on Truth Social, saying that he had concluded a “highly successful” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under the agreement, Russia would send 2.25 million barrels of diesel to U.S. and global markets. Another 500,000 tons would be supplied in November, and a further 1 million tons would come “immediately thereafter.” 

Based on the condition of Russian refineries, Trump continued, they will supply “within a short period of time” 3 million tons of diesel. 

The average U.S. price of diesel was $6.32 per gallon on Wednesday, according to AAA, up from $6.30 per gallon a week ago.