Two Russian tankers carrying diesel to U.S. are no longer heading for American ports, - FT
Two of the three Russian tankers that set sail for the U.S. as part of the "Diesel deal" have changed course and are no longer heading for U.S. ports.
According to Censor.NET, Financial Times reported this.
Details
The Russian tanker "Talisman," which is subject to sanctions from the U.S., the U.K., and the EU, as well as the tanker "Leruo," flying the Sierra Leone flag, no longer list the U.S. East Coast as their destination.
Specifically, on November 2, the "Leruo" changed course toward Brazil, while the "Talisman" turned back from the Atlantic Ocean and headed for the Mediterranean Sea; it is currently off the coast of Algeria.
A third tanker loaded with Russian diesel fuel—a Greek tanker named Agioi Fanendes—appears to be continuing its journey to the U.S., but is signaling that it is "awaiting instructions."
The owner of the Agioi Fanendes, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, stated that the final destination has not yet been confirmed.
"Two of the three tankers carrying Russian diesel fuel that were headed for the U.S. have already changed course and are now heading to other destinations.
The third tanker, the Agioi Fanendes, is expected to arrive in New York this weekend. However, given the apparent hesitation among American buyers due to regulatory, legislative, and sanctions-related restrictions, it would not be surprising if this tanker also changed course and headed elsewhere," said Kpler analyst Matt Smith.
US–Russia diesel deal and threats against Ukraine
- On October 9, US President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Russian dictator Putin and reached an agreement on Russian diesel supplies to US and global markets.
- According to him, Russia would "immediately" supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and global markets, another 500,000 tonnes during November, and a further one million tonnes "immediately after that."
- The US Treasury Department announced that, at Trump’s direction, the Office of Foreign Assets Control was immediately issuing a temporary general license authorizing Russian diesel supplies to the global market.
- In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called permission for Russia to sell petroleum products an "investment in war" and urged the US to hold firm talks with Moscow and impose sanctions under Lindsey Graham’s legislation.
- Axios reported that, during talks in Miami, US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had allegedly warned the Ukrainian side that access to US intelligence could be cut off if Ukraine continued striking Russian oil refineries.
- On October 11, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine would be ready to halt strikes on Russian refineries if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
- That same day, US President Donald Trump announced the start of an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia.
- In comments to Axios, Zelenskyy said US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the start of an "energy truce" had come as a surprise to the Ukrainian side.
- The president later said Ukraine was ready to refrain from striking Russia’s energy sector provided Russia took similar steps.
