Three Tankers Carry Half a Million Tonnes of Diesel to US Ports

Three tankers loaded with Russian diesel are moving toward the United States East Coast, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. He confirmed on Friday that the vessels are already in transit. The cargo represents the first delivery under a new agreement signed this month by President Donald Trump.

The deal allows Russian companies to ship 500,000 metric tonnes of fuel to the US and global markets in October. In exchange, Washington agreed to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian fuel. Novak stated that the Russian Direct Investment Fund is providing significant support for the operation. Reuters reported that one of the ships, the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, carries ultra-low sulphur diesel. That vessel is expected to arrive in the US on 7 November.

The fuel shipment arrives alongside a separate diplomatic development in Ukraine. The White House announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky. Both sides will stop military operations in the city starting 27 October. The pause will allow aid workers to deliver supplies and prepare for civilian evacuations. Russian and Ukrainian officials said they are close to a broader agreement.

Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city. Residents report severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Some are surviving on weeds and boiled grass. The humanitarian situation has worsened in recent weeks.

The ceasefire supports a larger push to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US have agreed to technical meetings in Abu Dhabi in early November. A US official noted that the three nations might meet again in a few weeks, either in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland. Zelenskyy expressed hope that a leaders' summit will follow.

These talks follow a recent rift between Washington and Kyiv. President Trump recently moved to limit Ukraine's use of the Starlink communication system. On Friday, he said he would resolve the access issue if necessary, potentially speaking with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Meanwhile, the IAEA confirmed that repairs to power infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant are complete under a temporary ceasefire.

EU leaders in Brussels pressed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to contribute more to Ukraine's defense. The UK government will present its first budget under Burnham next week. EU officials also called for increased support from Canada and Japan.