Another Russian diesel tanker turns away from US as Trump’s deal with Putin falls apart

Detailed summary

Despite President Trump promising up to a million tons of diesel from Russia, so far no barrels have arrived in the US

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A tanker carrying Russian diesel to the U.S. was forced to reverse course in another blow to President Donald Trump’s energy deal with Russia.

The Agioi Fanendes tanker, a Malta-flagged tanker which was carrying approximately 300,000 barrels of Russian diesel, or 40,000 metric tons, reversed course 400 nautical miles away from New York, according to Bloomberg and the Kyiv Post.

In an early October bid to lower energy costs in the U.S. before the midterm elections, Donald Trump said he had signed a deal with Russia to supply the U.S. with 300,000 tons of diesel to the US in October, 500,000 tons in November, and then 1 million tons after that.

However, this deal violated existing U.S. sanctions against importing Russian oil and gas, and as of November 11, no Russian diesel has been registered entering the country.

New Jersey Governor and U.S. Navy veteran, Mikie Sherill, warned port operators in New Jersey that they could face civil penalties if they unloaded Russian diesel.

“Every port and terminal operator, intermediary, and buyer is on notice: do not help bring illegal Russian diesel into New Jersey," said Sherill on November 2, per Military.com.

Sherill also accused the president of "helping finance Putin's war against Ukraine."

The diesel agreement failed to bring down prices before the midterms, which saw a Republican wipe out at the polls.

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