Russian diesel tankers change course as Kremlin says US shipments continue

Two tankers carrying Russian diesel that had been signalling US destinations have changed their routes or declared destinations, while another remains on course towards America. The shipments are being watched as a test of an October diesel arrangement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

The Financial Times reported that the Leruo and the Talisman were no longer listing the US Atlantic coast as their destination. Separately, AFP said ship-tracking data showed the Talisman off Tunisia on Thursday, while the Leruo was signalling Brazil. A declared destination can change and does not confirm where a cargo will ultimately be delivered.

A third tanker, the Agioi Fanendes, was still heading towards the US. AFP reported that tracking firm Kpler showed New York as its destination on Thursday. The vessel’s operator had previously told Reuters that its discharge port or country had not been finalised.

Reuters reported that at least six Russian diesel cargoes had signalled plans to cross the Atlantic. Shipping data showed that none had arrived in the US since the agreement, the agency said on Thursday. A Kpler analyst told Reuters that unloading the first expected shipment was not guaranteed because of regulatory, legislative and sanctions concerns.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the shipments were commercial transactions whose details could not be made public. He expected the diesel to find buyers and said there was no connection between the tankers’ routes and the US midterm elections.

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev rejected the Financial Times report, saying on X that tankers destined for the US were continuing on course. He did not name specific vessels.

Trump announced the Russian diesel arrangement on 9 October, saying it would help lower US fuel prices. The initial 300,000 tonnes he announced were intended for US and global markets, not the US alone. A tanker heading elsewhere would not, by itself, show that the wider arrangement had failed.