Trump wrote on Truth Social that Russia would ship more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel immediately, with another 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes right after that. A further three million tonnes would follow "based on the state of the refineries," he said. The Kremlin has not commented on the conversation.
Trump added that thanks to "full control over the Strait of Hormuz," diesel prices for Americans would fall "rapidly and substantially." He called lower prices his top priority, citing farmers, ranchers and truck drivers.
On the president's instructions, the US Treasury immediately issued a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to world markets. Trump did not mention any easing of sanctions in his post.
Diesel exports from Russia are currently banned: on September 30 the government extended the ban for producers until October 31. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on October 2 that a partial reopening of exports would be considered "in the event of diesel overproduction." On October 6, sources told Interfax that the authorities were discussing lifting the ban for individual producers as early as October to avoid refineries becoming overstocked.
Putin himself said on October 1 at the Valdai forum that Russia had enough diesel, but that it "will not reach world markets, because bans and sanctions are in force against our oil and petroleum products." Diesel prices in the US exceeded $6 per gallon in September for the first time. Trump attributed this to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and demanded that Volodymyr Zelensky stop the attacks.