World

Russian Diesel Ship Sets Sail for U.S. Amid Ukraine Protest

By AP

A tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel has departed for the United States under a new import agreement, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday, October 23, 2026. The shipment is expected to arrive in New York on November 7, making it the first Russian diesel delivery to the U.S. since July 2023. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the volume of the first shipment, and the vessel’s route was reported by marine intelligence firm Kpler.

The agreement follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal with President Vladimir Putin, two weeks after the U.S. signed a sweeping sanctions package that could have imposed up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas. Trump later suspended those measures. Energy policy experts say the 40,000‑ton shipment—about 300,000 barrels or 7% of the U.S. daily diesel consumption—will not significantly lower fuel prices.

Ukraine has expressed strong disapproval. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the decision as “a weak decision by strong partners,” and the country has urged other nations to tighten sanctions on Moscow. Russian diesel production has been strained by Ukrainian long‑range drone strikes on oil refineries, which have recently eased after Ukraine was asked to stop the attacks.

In other developments, Russia’s civil aviation authority announced that all four Moscow airports—Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky—had halted flights for security reasons. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses had downed 17 Ukrainian drones targeting the capital. Additionally, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 prisoners of war for the first time since August, with each side releasing the same number of soldiers and civilians.

Published - October 23, 2026 10:18 pm IST