Trump says Russia will immediately supply '300,000 tons of diesel' - with millions more to follow

Donald Trump says Russia will provide "the American and global marketplace" with nearly five million US tons of diesel after a phone call with Vladimir Putin.

The US president said the first tranche, comprising 300,000 tons, would be released immediately in a post on his own social network, Truth Social.

He said it would be followed by another 500,000 tons in November, with a further one million tons "immediately thereafter".

Russia would then provide three million tons "within a short period of time", he added.

A US ton equates to 907kg, while a metric tonne weighs 1,000kg.

Mr Trump went on to say that "Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority".

In the aftermath of the announcement, he told reporters in Washington: "That is massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and I want to thank President Putin to be honest with you."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the agreement, characterising it as a "gift to Putin".

He said the Russian leader is "relying on attempts to strike backroom deals to secure some form of pressure relief for Russia".

Mr Zelenskyy added: "Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement... is an obvious weakness.

"It plays into Russia's hands - allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world."

Mr Putin said it would have a "positive impact on the entire global economy" in a statement issued by the Kremlin.

His phone call with the US president - initially expected to focus on the suspected plague death in Siberia - also covered the war in Iran and prospects for resolving the "Ukrainian crisis", the statement added.

R‌ussia's deputy prime minister Alexander ‌Novak said his country was ready to start supplying diesel to the US and other countries in October, with exports set to increase in November and December.

The Treasury Department said it would immediately issue a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to the global market following Mr Trump's announcement.

The US has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, when then-president Joe Biden banned them following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Fuel prices have risen dramatically since the start of the US-Iran war and remain high as America prepares to head to the polls for the midterm elections on 3 November.

The national average for a gallon of diesel in the US was $6.23 (£4.71) on Friday after hitting a record $6.52 (£4.92) on 22 September.

Mr Trump has recently pressured G7 allies to release emergency reserves and expanded access to tax-exempt red-dyed diesel, which is typically reserved for farm equipment.

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Last month, he signed a sanctions law targeted at Russia's energy economy and other areas which fuel its war against Ukraine.

It applies to Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of tankers.

The measures also ban all new US investment in Russia and the handling of sovereign debt.

(c) Sky News 2026: Trump says Russia will immediately supply '300,000 tons of diesel' - with millions more to follow