According to Tass, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Novak said in an interview with the Russian news website Vesti.ru on October 18 that Russian diesel fuel will enter the US market within 15 to 20 days after the contract is signed.
The US Department of Energy has determined that the companies to be involved in the transaction will act as both buyers and sellers. Negotiations on commercial terms are currently underway. In essence, these negotiations are about signing a contract. Once signed, the fuel will be delivered to the market within 15 to 20 days – which refers to the US market. Novak said.
He pointed out that for more recent countries, the time required will be shorter.
Novak said that after Russian President Putin and U.S. President Trump spoke and reached an agreement on October 9th, the Russian government lifted the diesel export restrictions the next day. “In the future, we will increase production as much as possible according to the plan and the agreements reached by the two presidents. 500,000 tons in October, 1 million tons in November, and 1 million tons in December. By the end of the year, if refineries operate at full capacity like before, we will be able to supply the world market with 3.5 million tons, which is almost 10% of the global market.”
Novak pointed out that currently, active work is being carried out between the Russian Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. There is a good connection between Russian exporters and buyers of diesel in Russia.
On that day, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that regardless of what Ukrainian President Zelenskyy does or says, the Russian-American diesel agreement is purely a bilateral matter between Russia and the United States.
Moscow and Washington's diesel fuel agreement is a matter between Moscow and Washington," Lavrov said, "If the EU considers this to be a betrayal of Ukraine, Zelensky argues that Russia's diesel export problem must be resolved alongside him because only he can grant permission. This no longer concerns energy security, but self-promotion and another farce."
On October 9th, Putin and Trump held a phone call. Trump posted on social media stating that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to the United States and global markets “immediately”. Subsequently, the US Department of Treasury issued a license allowing the import of Russian diesel, which is valid until April 7, 2027.
On October 16th, Trump signed an executive order exempting several sanctions, restrictions, and tariff measures under the Graham Act against Russia.
