Wire reporting: (AP, via Local 10)

The Kremlin said Friday that a first tanker of Russian diesel bound for the United States had set sail under an import arrangement President Donald Trump announced with Moscow this month^1,2,5,6,7,8.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the first tanker had left for customers and that regular supplies would continue, according to an Associated Press dispatch carried by Local 10, ClickOrlando, ClickOnDetroit, KSAT, ABC News and Arab News^1,2,5,6,7,8.

The AP report placed the sailing about two weeks after Trump said he had reached a diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Russia's war in Ukraine^1,2,5,6,7,8.

The Kyiv Independent, citing Reuters and LSEG shipping data, reported that a Malta-flagged tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel was en route to New York and expected early next month³.

That outlet named the ship Agioi Fanendes, said it loaded at the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk on Oct. 22, and said it was set to arrive in the United States on Nov. 7³.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Oct. 21 that a first tanker of that size would soon depart for the United States, with more shipments to follow, the Kyiv Independent reported³.

Trump has said Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of metric tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets in stages, a claim the Kyiv Independent summarized from his Oct. 9 announcement³.

Moscow later eased some diesel-export limits enough to allow a 500,000-metric-ton sale, according to the same report³.

Ukraine, some European governments and some U.S. lawmakers have criticized the arrangement, arguing it would give little relief to U.S. consumers while helping finance Russia's war, the Kyiv Independent said³.

The AP copy carried by ABC News said marine intelligence firm Kpler described the cargo as the first Russian diesel delivery to the United States since July 2023, put the 40,000 tons at about 300,000 barrels, or roughly 7 percent of one day's U.S. diesel use, and said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's decision a weak move by strong partners⁷.

The Boston Globe carried the same AP dispatch and said energy policy experts judged the import agreement unlikely to lower U.S. diesel prices at the pump in a meaningful way⁹.

That AP copy, as published by the Globe, described the shipment as about 300,000 barrels, or roughly 7 percent of one day's U.S. diesel use, and said the arrangement followed a recent U.S. sanctions package that Trump later put on hold⁹.

Reuters' exclusive page on the cargo was not fully readable behind a login in the material reviewed here⁴.

Sources

1. (AP, via Local 10)The Kremlin says a first tanker of Russian diesel sets sail for the US despite Ukraine's protestsAlso (AP, via ClickOrlando), (AP, via ClickOnDetroit), (AP, via KSAT), (AP, via ABC News), (AP, via Arab News), (AP, via The Boston Globe)Oct 23, 7:42 AM
2. Kyiv IndependentFirst tanker with Russian diesel under Trump deal heads to US, Reuters reportsOct 23, 4:55 AM
3. ReutersEXCLUSIVE: Tanker carrying 40,000 T of Russian diesel heads to New York after Putin-Trump deal, data showsOct 23, 2:40 AM

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