Russia-US diesel supply talks remain under negotiation, Novak says

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak says Moscow and Washington are negotiating energy contracts after Donald Trump announced a diesel supply arrangement with Vladimir Putin.

Russia and the United States are still negotiating the contractual framework for a reported diesel supply arrangement, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

Novak said discussions were underway between the Russian Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. He described the talks as negotiations for contract agreements with American counterparts, indicating that a finalized supply contract had not been confirmed.

The comments followed Donald Trump’s announcement on social media that he had reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call. Trump said Russia would supply diesel to the American and global market through a series of deliveries.

Staged deliveries announced

According to Trump’s announcement, Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 tons of diesel. He also said a further 500,000 tons would be supplied in November, followed by 1 million tons immediately thereafter.

Trump added that Russia would deliver another 3 million tons within what he described as a short period of time. No exact date was given for that additional delivery.

The reported schedule remains an announcement attributed to Trump. The available information does not independently confirm that the deliveries have taken place or that the two governments have completed a binding contract.

Tariff legislation

Trump’s announcement came a few weeks after Congress passed legislation directing him to impose substantial tariffs on major importers of Russian oil or natural gas.

The legislation includes an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports. The measure was cited as part of the wider context surrounding the reported diesel arrangement.

For now, Novak’s statement points to ongoing negotiations between the two energy ministries, while the scale and timing of the proposed diesel deliveries remain based on Trump’s announcement.