WASHINGTON — Russian diesel could reach US buyers before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, sources told The Post, as fuel prices climbed to a record $6.53 per gallon last month.
“It should be here in the next two weeks if we get everything done,” one American source said, adding that Russia had agreed to provide “a pretty substantial” volume.
President Trump announced Friday that the US would suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Russian President Vladimir Putin also lifted a diesel-export ban imposed last year.
The sources did not detail how the fuel would be transported to the United States. Trump had previously described the arrangement as a way to ease pressure on prices worldwide.
“That’s not being released to us,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “That’s a diesel deal that’s going to be released into the world for the world market, because the world market suffered with high prices.”
Trump struck the agreement with Putin after becoming increasingly frustrated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s campaign targeting distant Russian oil refineries. The attacks damaged major refining hubs and added upward pressure to fuel prices.
The United States repeatedly urged Zelensky not to target Russian refineries, but Ukraine “ignored” those appeals, according to US sources, prompting Trump to pursue the diesel arrangement.
“When you hit refineries, that hurts American consumers, and that’s not acceptable,” a US source told The Post.
Zelensky criticized the fuel agreement with Moscow, calling it a “weak” decision that would help finance Russia’s continuing invasion. He later agreed to Trump’s demand that Ukraine stop attacking the refineries.
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Experts estimate that the diesel agreement could deliver as much as $4 billion in additional revenue to Moscow.
Trump announced a limited “energy cease-fire” between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday.
A US official said Russia had agreed not to attack Ukrainian oil refineries and gas stations only if Kyiv halted its drone campaign against Russian refineries. Zelensky has accused Moscow of violating the arrangement by striking natural-gas facilities almost immediately.
Ukraine currently has no operating oil refineries, although it could theoretically rebuild them during the pause.
Putin did not agree to stop attacks on other Ukrainian targets, including the country’s electricity grid.
Trump has taken additional steps to bring down diesel prices, but they have produced little relief. Among them was a move to make untaxed “red dye” diesel more broadly available to drivers.
The national average price of diesel stands at $6.30 per gallon, according to AAA data. That is nearly twice the $3.66 average recorded a year ago and only modestly below the late-September record of $6.53.
Higher fuel costs are passed along to consumers, contributing to a renewed rise in inflation. The annual inflation rate reached 3.7% in September.
Trump’s push to lower prices comes as Republicans confront a potentially difficult midterm election. Polling shows widespread voter dissatisfaction despite the president’s nationwide campaign highlighting achievements such as new tax breaks, stronger job-growth figures and increased foreign investment.
Fuel prices have surged over the past year, largely because Trump’s nearly eight-month conflict with Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
