---
title: "Novak: First Tanker with 40,000 Tons of Russian Diesel to Head to USA Tomorrow"
description: "Russian Deputy Prime Minister Novak stated that the first tanker with 40,000 tons of diesel will depart for the US on October 22, and by the end of the year, Russia intends to fully restore export volumes and expand the circle of buyers."
date: 2026-10-21T10:03:04.436Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/novak-first-tanker-diesel-usa-tomorrow
tags: [russia, diesel-fuel, us-sanctions, export, nord-stream, novak, energy-market]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Novak: First Tanker with 40,000 Tons of Russian Diesel to Head to USA Tomorrow

![Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak wearing a business suit during an event](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/21/novak-pervyy-tanker-s-dizelem-v-ssha-otpravitsya-zavtra/novak-pervyy-tanker-s-dizelem-v-ssha-otpravitsya-zavtra-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Novak stated that the first tanker with 40,000 tons of Russian diesel will go to the US on October 22, 2026
- By the end of 2026, Russia intends to fully restore diesel fuel export volumes and expand the circle of buyers
- The US Treasury temporarily removed Russian diesel from under sanctions until April 7, 2027
- Novak announced the technical feasibility of restoring the damaged Nord Stream strings without specifying timeframes

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В Кремле размечтались полностью восстановить объемы экспорта дизеля после соглашения с США](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kremli-rozmriyalis-povnistyu-vidnoviti-obsyagi-1792576521.html) - The only available source. Chain: RBC-Ukraine → TASS. Novak's statements are transmitted as direct speech. The context of the Trump–Putin agreements and the US Treasury decision until 04/07/2027 is indicated in the same text. There is no independent verification of the tanker shipment date and the volume of 40,000 tons in the provided materials.

## FAQ

### When, according to Novak's statement, should the first tanker with diesel leave for the US?

According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, the first tanker with 40,000 tons of Russian diesel fuel is to be sent to the United States on October 22, 2026.

### Until what date did the US Treasury lift sanctions on Russian diesel fuel?

The US Treasury temporarily exempted Russian diesel fuel from sanctions until April 7, 2027.

### Did Novak name specific countries that could become buyers of Russian diesel?

No. Novak stated that closer to the end of the year, not only the US but also other countries will be able to use Russian diesel, but did not name specific states.

### Is this about the start of repairs for Nord Stream?

No. Novak only stated the technical feasibility of restoring the damaged pipeline strings. His statement contains no specific timeframes for work or an adopted decision on repairs.