Trump and Putin agree to supply 300,000 tons of diesel oil to Russia - aiming to curb prices ahead of US midterm elections

US President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 9th, and announced that Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel oil to the US and international markets. "For the American people and the world, diesel oil prices will fall at record levels and at a rapid rate," Trump said in a post on social media.

In the United States, where midterm elections are to be held on November 3, the soaring price of diesel oil due to the protracted military operation against Iran is acting as a headwind for the ruling Republican Party. After posting the post, Trump told reporters at the White House, ``I want to thank President Putin.'' The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it will temporarily ease some sanctions against Russia for about six months until early April 2027, allowing the sale and export of Russian-produced diesel oil to the United States and other countries.

According to Trump, Russia will supply 300,000 tons, plus an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons immediately thereafter. In addition, 3 million tons will be delivered based on the operating status of the refinery facility. Russia, which is under attack by Ukraine on its oil refinery facilities, has banned the export of diesel fuel to ensure a stable domestic supply, but Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Novak told TASS that the embargo will be lifted immediately.

According to the Russian presidential palace, Putin emphasized that lifting the embargo will have a "positive impact on the entire world economy." He also revealed that during his phone conversation with Trump, the main topic of discussion was "prospects for resolving the Ukraine crisis." This is the first telephone conversation between the two leaders since September 8, and the first time in about a month.