Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the first tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel fuel is scheduled to be shipped to the United States as early as October 22, 2026. According to him, the process of signing contracts between Moscow and Washington regarding diesel supplies is in its final stages. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Russian news agency TASS.
First Delivery and Completion of Contractual Work
As Novak clarified, sending the tanker to the American market will be the first practical step within the framework of agreements reached in early October between U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and Moscow. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the signing of contracts between the two sides for diesel fuel supplies is virtually complete, and only final procedural stages remain. The specific port of departure and destination were not named in his statement.
Plans for Complete Export Recovery by the End of the Year
Moscow expects that supplies to the American direction will become part of a broader program to resume fuel exports. Novak stated that by the end of 2026, Russia could fully restore the volume of diesel fuel exports. At the same time, according to him, closer to the end of the year, not only the US but also other countries will be able to use Russian diesel. The Deputy Prime Minister did not name specific states that could become buyers, limiting himself to a general formulation about expanding the circle of consumers.
Nord Stream: Technical Feasibility of Restoration
In addition to diesel export topics, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister commented on the prospects of gas infrastructure. Novak stated that the damaged strings of the Nord Stream pipelines can technically be restored. At the same time, this statement does not mention specific timeframes for the work or any adopted decision regarding repairs. Thus, the statement is of the nature of stating technical feasibility rather than announcing the start of restoration measures.
Context: Temporary Lifting of Sanctions by the US Treasury
Recall that in early October 2026, the administration of US President Donald Trump agreed with Moscow on diesel fuel supplies. Following this, the US Treasury temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 7, 2027. In Washington, according to available data, they hope that easing the sanctions regime regarding Russian diesel will help persuade Vladimir Putin to compromise on ending the war in Ukraine.
What This Means for the Market
Novak's statements mark a transition from the contractual phase to the operational one: if the tanker with 40,000 tons is indeed sent on October 22, it will become the first commercial flow of Russian diesel to the US after the introduction of relevant restrictions. The complete restoration of export volumes by the end of the year, as Moscow says, provided that the circle of buyers expands, could significantly change the balance in the global diesel fuel market and reduce the dependence of European and other consumers on alternative suppliers.
