President Donald Trump Friday announced he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply the U.S. and world markets with diesel fuel.
In a Truth Social post Trump said Putin agreed to immediately supply the U.S. and world markets with 300,000 tons of diesel. He said Putin agreed to supply 500,000 more tons in November, and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter. Trump said another 3 million tons would be available "a short period of time" after that.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said, “Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.”
AP reports that for his part, "Putin said Russia 'confirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and global markets,' Putin added, 'I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy.'"
Neither Trump nor Putin said who would be paying for the diesel deliveries or where they would go.
Interestingly, the announcement of the diesel deal comes shortly after Trump had announced considerable sanctions on Russia's petroleum industry for its continued war with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted negatively to Trump's announcement, saying, "It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer."
Ukraine has launched numerous drone attacks on Russian refineries and ports, which in part have driven up the price of diesel.
New York Senator Charles Schumer decried Trump's diesel announcement.
AAA reports the national average price of diesel today is $6.27, down a penny from yesterday.
