The key facts

  • Alexander Novak: fuel will reach the US market 15–20 days after contracts are signed; no signing date given.
  • Kirill Dmitriev previously said the contracts would be signed within days.
  • The agreement covers 2.22 million barrels — less than half of daily US diesel consumption (3.9 million barrels per day).

Delivery timelines after contracts are signed

Delivering Russian diesel fuel to the US market will take 15 to 20 days after the signing of contracts, said Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia for energy, in an interview with the state media outlet Vesti. According to him, negotiations on commercial terms, that is, on finalizing the contracts, are currently underway. Novak did not name a signing date.

Contradictions in the signing timeline

Earlier, on Wednesday, Kremlin adviser on international economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev claimed that the contracts would be signed within days. In his Sunday interview, Novak did not announce a signing date.

Context of the agreement

US President Donald Trump announced the controversial agreement with Moscow last week. The deal is seen as an attempt to lower fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The rise in prices at gas stations since the start of the US and Israel war against Iran has caused discontent in the US and, according to estimates, threatens Trump's Republican Party with major losses in the elections.

Scale of the deal and expert skepticism

Many experts believe the diesel agreement with Moscow will not have a fundamental impact on consumers' wallets. The US consumes 3.9 million barrels of diesel per day, whereas the agreement with Moscow initially concerns 2.22 million barrels in total — barely enough for half a day of American consumption.