Russia has confirmed that negotiations are underway with the United States over a potential diesel supply agreement following a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak disclosed this on Wednesday, saying the Russian Ministry of Energy and the US Department of Energy were discussing contractual arrangements.
“Negotiations are currently underway for contract agreements with American colleagues between the Russian Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy,” Novak said.
His remarks followed Trump’s announcement on social media that he had reached an agreement with Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies to the United States and the global market.
Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes “immediately thereafter”.
He added that Russia would deliver another three million tonnes “within a short period of time”.
However, Novak’s statement indicated that negotiations on the contractual arrangements were still ongoing.
The proposed deal comes weeks after the US Congress passed legislation directing Trump to impose substantial tariffs on major importers of Russian oil and natural gas.
The legislation provides an exception for countries that import less than 15 per cent of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce their imports.
The proposed diesel agreement could therefore have implications for US energy policy and Washington’s broader approach to trade with Moscow amid tensions over Russian energy exports.
