Russia Says Diesel Exports Could Exceed Volumes Outlined in Trump-Putin Deal
Russia could increase its diesel exports to between 3 million and 3.5 million metric tons per month by the end of the year, potentially exceeding the volumes outlined in an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Moscow, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday.
“We will see how the situation develops further, but Russia has the capacity to increase diesel fuel exports,” Novak said in an interview with Russian state television channel Rossiya-24.
He added that exports could return to pre-crisis levels by the end of the year.
Under the arrangement announced by Trump on October 9, Russia is expected to resume diesel shipments to the strained global market. The United States would temporarily lift sanctions imposed on Russia over its war against Ukraine in an effort to ease fuel prices for American consumers.
Trump said the agreement followed a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9.
According to Trump, more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel would be shipped immediately. An additional 500,000 metric tons were expected in November, followed by 1 million metric tons in December. The shipments are intended to help compensate for supply disruptions caused by the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
Novak said the agreement could help partially balance global diesel supply and demand.
“We are already seeing this effect, including in global diesel markets, where prices have fallen by around five to six percent,” he said.
Russia Disputes U.S. Estimates of Energy Sales to Europe
Novak also challenged U.S. estimates of the value of Russian resources sold to European countries.
He said figures placing the value at $250 billion were significantly below the actual amount.
“The figure for the period from 2022 to the present day is $320.7 billion,” Novak told Rossiya-24, referring to energy resources supplied to European Union member states.
Zelenskyy Questions Impact on Global Fuel Prices
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned whether the proposed Russian diesel shipments would significantly affect global fuel prices.
“If Russia accounts for 2.2 percent of global diesel supplies, what impact can it have on the price?” Zelenskyy said on October 12.
He argued that Russia's influence could be reduced further if other countries stopped providing Moscow with opportunities to expand its international leverage.
Zelenskyy also criticised the prospect of engaging with Putin without what he described as equality and fairness.
Trump Announces Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire
In a social media post on October 11, Trump announced what he described as an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
“Effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.
However, as of October 13, no publicly confirmed agreement or detailed set of terms governing the proposed energy truce had emerged.
Ukraine Warns It Will Continue Strikes if Russia Rejects Truce
Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine would continue its long-range attacks against Russian targets if Moscow refused to accept an energy ceasefire.
Speaking by video link at the Warsaw Security Forum, he said Ukrainian energy infrastructure had been struck by Russian air attacks since he learned of the proposed truce.
“This winter, if Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond,” he said.
In a subsequent statement on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had refrained from attacking Russian oil refineries and the broader energy sector for the two days following Trump's announcement of the ceasefire.
However, he accused Russia of continuing to target Ukrainian energy facilities and critical infrastructure during that period.
Zelenskyy said the attacks demonstrated that Moscow was not complying with Trump's call to halt strikes on energy infrastructure.
“Our position remains unchanged: Ukraine is ready for reciprocal steps toward de-escalation, and effective pressure on Russia is needed to make de-escalation happen,” he said.
The proposed energy truce remains uncertain, with questions surrounding its terms, enforcement and potential impact on global fuel supplies and prices.