The first tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel left for New York earlier this week, following President Donald Trump’s agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to add millions of tons of diesel to the global supply. The shipment comes as U.S. diesel prices have climbed above $6 per gallon.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed [1] that the initial shipment was underway and said more would follow. “The first oil tanker has sailed off to customers, and regular supplies will continue,” Peskov said Friday.
The Russian diesel is the first shipment to the United States from the Kremlin since 2023. Its departure represents the opening move in a much larger supply commitment announced after Trump and Putin reached their agreement earlier this month.
Following the deal, Trump also waived most sanctions on Russia and on those purchasing fuel from the country under the Graham Act. The legislation was backed by late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro discussed the agreement on “America Reports” with John Roberts. Punaro cautioned that the tanker’s 40,000 tons of diesel would supply only a “couple of hours” worth of U.S. demand.
Punaro acknowledged the importance of easing the financial strain caused by expensive fuel. “Look, reducing fuel prices is a very legitimate and necessary policy goal,” he said, adding that the president has several positive initiatives aimed at that objective.
At the same time, Punaro sharply criticized lifting sanctions and purchasing Russian diesel. He argued that the transactions would fuel Russia’s war machine after a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv that killed women and children and damaged the Ukrainian energy grid.
Punaro said he hoped the administration would reconsider its approach, strengthen its other initiatives and “turn that tanker around and go in a different direction.” His warning placed the administration’s push for cheaper diesel against the consequences he said could follow from sending fuel payments to Russia.
The retired general also argued that Putin’s ambitions extend beyond the current war in Ukraine. “He was never going to stop with Ukraine. That’s why we’ve got to stop him in Ukraine,” Punaro said.
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Under the Oct. 9 agreement between the United States and the Kremlin, Putin committed to a series of major diesel shipments. Trump said Russia would “immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.”
Trump described his conversation with Putin as a “highly successful discussion.” He also said Russia would deliver another 3,000,000 tons of diesel within a short period, based on the condition of the country’s diesel refineries.
In his Truth Social announcement, Trump tied the Russian energy agreement to what he called American control of the Strait of Hormuz. He predicted that the combined developments would drive diesel prices down quickly for Americans and consumers around the world.
Trump identified lower prices for farmers, ranchers and truckers as his greatest priority. Those groups are particularly prominent in his public argument for expanding diesel supplies, according to the announcement he posted about the agreement.
The president had faced pressure from Republicans to lower diesel prices before the midterms. With diesel exceeding $6 per gallon in the United States, the administration turned to the agreement with Putin as one initiative intended to expand global supplies.
The tanker now heading for New York is the first test of that strategy, but its 40,000-ton cargo represents only a fraction of the quantities Putin pledged. Punaro’s criticism also ensures the deal will face scrutiny over whether price relief is worth easing sanctions and purchasing Russian fuel.