By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply diesel to the United States and global markets, marking a significant shift in Washington’s policy towards Moscow amid soaring fuel prices.
Trump said on Friday that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes thereafter. He also announced plans for an additional three million tonnes of fuel within a short period, subject to the condition of Russian refineries.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described his telephone conversation with Putin as “highly successful” and said lowering fuel prices for Americans, particularly farmers, ranchers and truckers, was his priority.
The announcement comes as diesel prices in the US approach record levels, with disruptions to global energy supplies linked to the conflict involving Iran adding to pressure on fuel markets.
The US Treasury Department subsequently issued a temporary licence permitting Russian diesel supplies to the global market. The licence is valid until April 7, 2027, according to reports.
The move represents a notable departure from Washington’s policy following the Russia-Ukraine war when the US banned imports of Russian oil and petroleum products. It also comes weeks after Trump signed legislation tightening sanctions aimed at curbing Russia’s energy revenues.
The agreement has drawn criticism from Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that easing pressure on Moscow would benefit Russia’s war effort rather than promote peace. US lawmakers have also questioned the implications of the move for sanctions enforcement and Washington’s support for Kyiv.
However, analysts have expressed doubts about whether the additional supplies will substantially reduce American fuel prices. The initial shipment of 300,000 tonnes is relatively small compared with US diesel consumption and exports, suggesting that any relief could be limited.
The White House has yet to clarify who will pay for the fuel, when the shipments will arrive and how the subsequent deliveries will be arranged.
The deal comes ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, as the administration faces pressure to contain rising living costs and energy prices.
The agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over diesel supplies brings to mind a famous dialogue by late actor Nana Patekar in the 1989 Bollywood film Parinda: “Dhande mein koi kisi ka bhai nahin… (In business, nobody is anyone’s brother or son).”