Trump announces Russian diesel deal as Treasury eases sanctions
Source published: Oct 9, 2026 · 8:57 PM EDT · Event: 2026-10-09
President Donald Trump said after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons afterward and potentially 3 million more tons depending on Russian refinery conditions. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control separately issued General License 135, authorizing transactions otherwise barred by Russia- and Ukraine-related sanctions when they involve the sale, delivery, offloading or importation—including into the United States—of Russian-origin diesel through 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on April 7, 2027. The signed license is an official policy action. The shipment quantities and deal terms are Trump's announcement; no public contract or completed delivery was identified.
Response / context
General License 135 does not erase the broader Russia sanctions program. It excludes debits from accounts at U.S. financial institutions belonging to Russia's central bank, National Wealth Fund or Finance Ministry, and it authorizes only the transactions described in the license. Reuters and AP reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the decision would benefit Russia's war effort. Republican Representative Don Bacon and Democratic lawmakers also criticized easing pressure on Moscow. Russia said it was ready to supply oil and oil products, but a Kremlin aide would not disclose whether the United States made concessions. AP reported that the White House did not immediately answer questions about who would pay or when supplies would arrive. Energy analysts quoted by Reuters and AP said the announced volumes might not produce a sustained price reduction. These forecasts and political criticisms are attributed assessments, not established outcomes.
Dates and scope
Source publication: Oct 9, 2026 · 8:57 PM EDT
Event or conduct: 2026-10-09. Trump announced the asserted supply arrangement October 9 after a call with Vladimir Putin. OFAC issued Russia-related General License 135 the same day; Reuters and AP reported the announcement, license, responses and unresolved details.
Dated report. Publication, event and review times are different; the review time is when the sources were last checked, not a live update.
This brief preserves the available response and disposition. Coverage is non-exhaustive. How we review sources.
Read the original sources
- U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control: Russia-related General License 135 ↗
Primary October 9 license authorizing covered Russian-origin diesel transactions through April 7, 2027 and identifying the excluded Russian government accounts
- Reuters: Trump says Russia to supply diesel to US and global markets ↗
Authoritative October 9 report on Trump's announced quantities, the OFAC license, market context, Ukrainian and congressional responses and analysts' price-impact caveats
- Associated Press: Trump strikes deal with Putin to get diesel in sharp reversal of US policy weeks before midterms ↗
Authoritative October 9 report on the announcement, unresolved payment and concession details, Russian response, sanctions context and criticism from Ukraine and lawmakers
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