US diesel prices keep rising despite Trump's Russian fuel deal
A deal with Russia on diesel deliveries has not lowered US prices, The Wall Street Journal reports. Analysts doubt Russia can deliver the promised volumes, while US officials and Congress object to the shipments.
The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump with Russia on diesel deliveries has so far failed to deliver the expected result: fuel prices in the United States are rising rather than falling, according to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The issue matters because the shipments were meant to ease high fuel costs, yet they face obstacles in both the market and the legal arena.
Prices keep climbing
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average US diesel price on Wednesday, 28 October, was $6.35 per gallon, about $1.68 per litre. When Trump announced the deal, a gallon cost $6.28, so the price has risen by seven cents.
Promises and volumes
On 9 October, Trump said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets within the month. A further 500,000 tonnes were planned for November, followed by another million tonnes.
Analysts surveyed by the WSJ are sceptical. They say Russia may be unable to export the promised amounts because its refineries are in poor technical condition and export restrictions are in force. Even if the pledges were met, the volumes would equal slightly more than 100,000 barrels a day in October and about 125,000 barrels a day in November, a small share of the global shortfall. By comparison, Russia exported around 800,000 barrels of diesel a day in 2025.
Ships and obstacles
The first tanker, carrying 40,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, left for New York on 22 October and could reach US shores on 7 November. Two more vessels were later assigned to the deliveries.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said she is weighing all options to bar the ships from unloading at local terminals, calling the deal "corrupt and illegal". She stressed that she will not allow Russia's war chest to be filled at the expense of Ukrainians and Americans.
The US Congress also objects, arguing that the permits issued by the Trump administration violate a 2022 law banning imports of Russian oil products. Two of the ships, "Talisman" and "Leruo", appear on international sanctions lists, so port logistics companies refuse to work with them. Because of the legal and reputational risks, no US trader is willing to buy the fuel. The tanker "Agioi Fanendes" has already changed its destination in navigation systems from New York to "awaiting orders at sea", suggesting the vessels may be redirected to other countries such as Brazil or Turkey.
