Russia to provide 300,000 tons of diesel, Trump announces

Russia has agreed to immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel to help lower fuel prices on the world market. US President Donald Trump said he received the agreement after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media account Truth Social on Friday (October 9). CBS News reported that Moscow will deliver large amounts of diesel in several more batches in the coming months.

Trump said Russia would immediately provide 300,000 tons of diesel. Another 500,000 tons would be delivered in November and another 1 million tons in December. He also said another 3 million tons of diesel could be delivered in a short period of time, depending on the situation at Russia's diesel refineries.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the US Treasury Department announced a temporary waiver of sanctions on Russia's energy sector, aiming to create opportunities for Russian diesel supplies to the global market.

A Kremlin statement said that Russia is ready to supply oil and petroleum products to international markets, including the United States. Putin expressed hope that this will have a positive impact on the global economy. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of resolving the Ukraine war, the situation in Iran, and bilateral relations during the phone call.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the decision to ease sanctions on Russia. In a post on social media, he said that easing sanctions on Russia is a sign of weakness. According to him, allowing Russia to sell petroleum products means financing a war that needs to end.

Diesel prices have risen in the United States in recent months due to the war with Iran. According to the country's automobile association AAA, the average price of a gallon of diesel is $6.28. A month ago, it was $5.94 and a year ago, it was $3.68.

Diesel is widely used in truck transportation, agriculture, and construction. As a result, the cost of producing and transporting goods increases as the price of this fuel increases.