The Kremlin announced on Friday that the first tanker carrying Russian diesel has set sail for the United States, marking the implementation of an agreement between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump that has lifted certain American sanctions on Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the departure during his daily press briefing, according to Polsat News. “As far as I know, the energy ministry has already informed that the first tanker has indeed set off for buyers. Further deliveries will now be carried out at a steady pace,” he stated.
Data from LSEG showed on Friday that a Malta-flagged tanker is transporting 40,000 metric tonnes of Russian diesel and is heading towards New York.
Deal allows hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian fuel
The shipment follows an arrangement between Putin and Trump under which 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel is to be delivered to the American market. The agreement envisages increasing diesel exports to 500,000 tonnes in November, with further doubling in subsequent months.
A week earlier, President Trump waived the application of certain sanctions and tariffs on Russia that had been imposed under the so-called Lindsey Graham Act, signed in September. Trump cited US national interest as justification for the move.
Kirill Dmitriev, an adviser to Putin, described the US president’s decision as “an important, truly historic moment”. However, the agreement has provoked sharp criticism from both American political parties, Republicans and Democrats, as well as from Ukraine and all EU member states during a summit held this week in Brussels.
Moscow promises preferential treatment for US firms
On Thursday, the Kremlin said that American companies still operating in Russia will be treated better than their European competitors. Moscow had previously tightened restrictions on Western businesses in response to EU support for Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression.
“The US administration is doing a lot to help achieve a peaceful solution. Europe is doing nothing to help, while at the same time doing a lot to prolong military operations,” Peskov commented.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The renewed flow of Russian diesel to the United States could have indirect implications for energy markets in Europe, including the UK, where many Poles live and work. While Britain has largely banned Russian oil imports since 2022, shifts in global supply chains can influence fuel prices at UK pumps and heating costs.
For Poles in Britain, any easing of US sanctions on Russian energy may complicate the broader Western stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine—a matter of deep concern to the Polish community, given Poland’s strong support for Kyiv. The controversy surrounding Trump’s decision underscores continuing divisions within the transatlantic alliance over how to respond to Moscow’s actions.
Those following developments should monitor official statements from the UK government and the European Union, as both have emphasised maintaining a united sanctions front. Changes in US policy may not directly alter UK or EU sanctions regimes, but could affect global energy pricing and diplomatic coordination on Ukraine.