Three Russian Fuel Ships Set Sail for US Waters
The vessels are carrying 500,000 metric tonnes of diesel under a deal that temporarily lifts US sanctions on Russian fuel.
By Alina Carter ·
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Friday that three vessels loaded with fuel have left for the Atlantic. Novak, quoted by Russian news agencies, said the shipments carry 500,000 metric tonnes of diesel. He stated that the Russian Direct Investment Fund provided significant support for the operation.
The movement of cargo follows an arrangement announced earlier this month by US President Donald Trump. Russia agreed to send diesel to world markets to help bring down prices. In return, Trump agreed to temporarily lift US sanctions on Russian fuel.
Reuters reported that one vessel, the Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes, is carrying ultra-low sulphur diesel. This ship is expected to reach the United States on 7 November. Novak said the tankers are currently on their way to the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The shipments coincide with a pause in fighting inside Ukraine. The White House stated on Friday that Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt all military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky starting 27 October. The truce will allow aid to be delivered and preparations to begin for evacuating civilians. An estimated 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, where severe shortages of food, water, and electricity persist.
Diplomatic activity is scheduled to intensify in the coming weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US will hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. A US official indicated the three nations might meet again in a couple of weeks, in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland.
US officials also addressed military support for Kyiv. Trump said that if Ukraine continued to have trouble accessing the Starlink communication system, he would address the matter with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In Brussels, European Union leaders pressed the UK's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, to contribute more to Ukraine's defence. The UK government is scheduled to present its first budget under Burnham's leadership next week.
