Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal Fails to Lower US Prices as Fuel Costs Rise

The diesel agreement announced by US President Donald Trump and the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has so far failed to lower diesel prices in the United States, with average prices instead rising slightly, The Wall Street Journal reported on October 28.

According to data cited by the Journal from the American Automobile Association, the average US diesel price reached $6.35 per gallon on October 28, up from $6.28 when Trump announced the agreement on October 9.

The deal was presented as a way to bring additional Russian diesel supplies to the US and global markets, but analysts remain skeptical that the volumes will be large enough to materially ease prices, the Wall Street Journal noted.

Last week, a tanker carrying more than 300,000 barrels of Russian diesel departed the port of Primorsk. The vessel initially listed New York as its destination before later changing its status to “for orders,” indicating that no final unloading port had been confirmed.

Analysts cited by the Journal also questioned whether Russia would be able to export the promised volumes because of the poor condition of its refineries and existing export restrictions.

Read more

Category

World

What Russia’s 300,000-Tonne Diesel Deal Is Really Worth

Oct 14, 2026 06:06

Even if those shipments materialize, the planned volumes would represent only a small share of the shortfall in the global diesel market. Russia is expected to ship slightly more than 100,000 barrels per day this month and around 125,000 barrels per day in November, according to the Wall Street Journal.

By comparison, Russia exported roughly 800,000 barrels of diesel per day in 2025, underscoring the gap between the volumes discussed under the current agreement and the scale of Russia’s previous exports.

The diesel agreement is facing legal challenges in the US. Rep. Jamie Raskin warned that American companies importing Russian fuel could face fines of up to $1 million and prison terms of up to 20 years, arguing that the administration’s sanctions waiver cannot override a congressional ban on Russian energy imports.

Truth is Under Attack

We report the war as it unfolds directly from the people and places most affected by it. Your support helps us bring these stories to the world.

SUPPORT