Three Tankers Load 500,000 Tonnes of Diesel for US Ports

Three tankers carrying Russian diesel are sailing toward the North American coast, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. He confirmed on Friday that the vessels are part of a deal to supply 500,000 metric tonnes of fuel to US and global markets during October. Novak stated that the first three ships are already moving toward the eastern Atlantic coast with support from the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

The arrangement was announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this month. Under the terms, Russia agrees to release diesel to lower fuel prices. In return, the US temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian fuel. Reuters reported that the Agioi Fanendes, a Malta-flagged tanker loaded with ultra-low sulphur diesel, is the first vessel in the convoy. It is expected to arrive in the United States on November 7.

The fuel deal coincides with a new diplomatic push regarding the war in Ukraine. The White House announced that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russia since February 2022. Both sides will halt military operations in the city starting October 27. This pause is intended to allow aid delivery and the evacuation of civilians. Officials from both nations said they are close to finalizing a broader ceasefire agreement.

Residents of Oleshky face severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city. Reports indicate some survivors are relying on weeds, boiled grass, and small rations to sustain themselves. The humanitarian crisis has intensified as conditions worsen under Russian occupation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US agreed to hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. A US official added that the three countries might meet again in a couple of weeks, potentially in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland. Zelenskyy expressed hope that a summit of national leaders would follow these technical discussions.

These developments follow recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv. The US recently placed limits on the Starlink communication system that Ukraine uses for defense. Trump said on Friday that he would resolve any remaining access issues, potentially by speaking with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Meanwhile, the IAEA confirmed that repairs to power infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant are complete. The work strengthens the plant's connection to its only remaining external power line, reducing the risk of another grid failure at Europe's largest nuclear station.