Russian Diesel Tanker Heads for New York After US Eases Sanctions

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A tanker carrying nearly 300,000 barrels of Russian diesel is heading for New York after US President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russian fuel supplies under an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, maritime tracking data and the Kremlin confirmed Friday.

The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes departed Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk overnight and was located off Helsinki on Friday, with New York listed as its destination, according to maritime tracking firm Kpler. The vessel is expected to arrive around November 7.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the shipment, saying the first tanker had departed for its intended buyers and that further deliveries would continue at a steady pace.

Following a telephone conversation with Putin earlier this month, Trump said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and global markets, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and a further one million tonnes afterward.

The agreement has drawn criticism from Ukraine and its European allies, as Russia continues its war against Ukraine, launched with a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The easing of sanctions also comes as Moscow intensifies attacks on Kyiv.

Trump's decision is widely viewed as an effort to reduce US fuel prices ahead of next month's midterm elections, with his Republican Party facing growing voter frustration over rising costs.

Trump has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for pushing fuel prices higher. However, analysts have identified the US-led war against Iran, which began in February, as the main driver of the increase.

Western countries imposed extensive sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, seeking to restrict Moscow's revenues and its ability to finance the war.