Two Russian diesel tankers bound for the United States have diverted to other destinations, according to the Financial Times, casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s energy deal with Moscow as U.S. fuel supplies dwindle.
According to Kpler analyst Matt Smith, two of the three Russian diesel cargoes bound for the U.S. have changed destinations. The Financial Times attributed the account to Smith. The Moscow Times, relaying the Financial Times report, said the Leruo, a Hong Kong-owned, Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, reportedly changed its signal to "Brazil." It also reported that the sanctioned Russian-flagged Talisman diverted to the Mediterranean and signaled "for orders" off the coast of Algeria. Both vessel details come from the Moscow Times, which relied on the Financial Times report rather than primary shipping data.
Smith suggested that the third tanker, the Greek-owned Agioi Fanendes, would also change course because of regulatory, legislative and sanctions issues, according to the Financial Times. That is a projection, not a confirmed diversion.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned port and terminal operators that they could face millions of dollars in fines for offloading Russian diesel, according to the Moscow Times. The report did not give the legal basis for the fines, and no response from port operators is included.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee ordered banks, port operators and companies involved in the deal to preserve documents ahead of oversight inquiries when Democrats take control of Congress in January, according to CNN.
Trump announced the diesel deal after a phone call with Putin last month. He claimed Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons to the U.S. and global markets, followed by 500,000 metric tons in November and 1 million metric tons after that. The Guardian calculated that the first 300,000 tons would cover only three-quarters of U.S. daily diesel consumption, and most experts expect little near-term effect on global energy markets. U.S. diesel prices have risen about 70% year-on-year amid global oil market turmoil triggered by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The sources do not include a response from the Trump administration, the Kremlin or the shipping companies. Turkey’s claim last month to have negotiated a share of the Russian diesel remains unverified, and a statement by Novak that at least four diesel tankers departed for export markets is not tied to the specific vessels named. Key details of the diversions rest on a single outlet’s account.
The Senate committee’s document preservation order sets up oversight inquiries once Democrats control Congress in January. The destination of the third tanker is still to be confirmed.
Sources
This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.