Trump hails Russia deal to release diesel as midterms loom

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he secured an agreement from Russia to release major diesel supplies. He eased war sanctions on Moscow to lower energy costs ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

Trump strikes diesel deal with Russia

President Trump secured the diesel agreement to lower soaring fuel prices for American consumers before the midterm elections. Surging pump costs threaten his party's control of Congress. Russia agreed to supply over 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, followed by larger shipments in November and beyond.

Moscow has faced heavy Western sanctions since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the decision as an unworthy and weak move by international partners.

The US Treasury issued a temporary license on Friday to permit Russian diesel flows through April 2027. Prices at US pumps surged after a Middle East conflict blocked the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted global energy transit.

Russia’s supply to global markets

Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to American and global marketplaces. Moscow will then supply 500,000 tons in November, followed by one million tons, with larger releases promised afterward.

The Kremlin confirmed its readiness to supply oil products to American and world markets. The average cost of regular US gasoline jumped more than 46 percent to $4.37 per gallon. Diesel prices rocketed 67 percent over the same period to reach $6.28 per gallon.

Trump blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for driving up fuel prices. However, the ongoing conflict with Iran remains the principal disruptor of global energy supplies.

US and Ukrainian negotiations in Miami

Ukrainian and US negotiators met on Friday in Miami to break the conflict stalemate and de-escalate the war before winter. US envoy Steve Witkoff reported that both sides held constructive discussions on potential avenues to end hostilities.

The Miami meeting follows recent diplomatic visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Deadly attacks continue to add urgency to peace efforts as winter approaches. A Russian strike in Kramatorsk recently killed 30 people.

Trump failed to broker an end to the war because of Moscow's sweeping territorial demands in the Donbas region. Zelensky rejected surrendering any Ukrainian territory. Officials from Britain, France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union also attended the security talks.