Trump defends Russian diesel deal as global market stabiliser

Trump on Tuesday sought to deflect mounting criticism over a surprise diesel agreement with Moscow, stating that Russian fuel supplies announced last week were designed to ease global market pressures rather than benefit American consumers. "That's a diesel deal. Not for us. That's being released into the world," the US president told reporters. The arrangement, negotiated during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, involves three tranches of fuel totalling over 1.8 million tons to be shipped between October and the following months. The US Treasury Department has issued a temporary licence exempting Russian diesel shipments from sanctions restrictions through April 7, 2027, facilitating the international distribution. Trump characterised the deal as a necessary response to elevated global diesel prices, which have been exacerbated by supply disruptions linked to the Iran war. The timing of the agreement—announced shortly before November congressional midterm elections—has heightened scrutiny, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressing reservations about the accord. The three-phase supply plan calls for over 300,000 tons in October, followed by 500,000 tons in November and an additional 1 million tons in subsequent shipments.