The key facts
- Putin announced a 5-6% drop in global diesel prices following the Russia-US deal
- Witkoff, on behalf of Trump, thanked Putin for increasing fuel exports
- The October 9 deal provides for the export of more than 300 thousand tons of diesel and 500 thousand tons of fuel; sanctions eased until April 7, 2027
Putin Reported a Drop in Diesel Prices
Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the American leader's envoy Steve Witkoff, stated that after the diesel deal between Russia and the US, global prices for this type of fuel fell by 5-6%. His words were reported by RIA Novosti.
Reaction from the American Side
Witkoff, for his part, on behalf of US President Donald Trump, thanked Putin for the decision to increase diesel fuel exports to the American and global markets.
Terms of the Deal
On October 9, Putin and Trump held a phone conversation, following which an agreement was reached on the supply of Russian oil products to the global and American markets. This concerns the export of more than 300 thousand tons of Russian diesel and 500 thousand tons of fuel. Washington, for its part, temporarily eased sanctions restrictions on such supplies until April 7, 2027.
Motives and Kyiv's Reaction
Trump explained the deal as an effort to lower high domestic diesel prices in the US ahead of the midterm congressional elections, and also linked it to the situation around Ukraine, calling the decision a tool of pressure on Kyiv. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the deal an 'innovative solution' for resolving the conflict. In Kyiv, the decision was criticized: Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Trump, by weakening anti-Russian sanctions, showed 'weakness.' Earlier, Trump spoke about the first results of the diesel deal with Russia.
