CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Amid rising fuel prices in the United States, US President Donald Trump has announced that the country will buy diesel from Russia after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections and at a time when fuel prices in the US are increasing. Trump said higher diesel supplies from Russia could help bring down fuel prices in the American market. The move is being seen as a major shift in the US sanctions policy against Russia.
According to Trump, Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel for the United States and the global market. This will be followed by 500,000 tonnes in November, with a plan to send 1 million tonnes later. He said additional supplies would also come from Russia. However, detailed information has not emerged on the payment arrangement for the deal or on possible concessions Russia may receive in return.
The United States has enacted legal provisions to put pressure on countries buying energy from Russia, under which major buyers such as India and China could face additional duties of up to 100%. Trump has previously threatened to impose trade duties on India over its purchase of Russian oil. Questions are now being raised about US policy after his own announcement on buying diesel from Russia. However, the threat of a 100% duty on India does not mean that such a levy has been imposed immediately.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised the decision to buy diesel from Russia. He said allowing Russia to sell petroleum products was like investing in a war that should be ended. According to Zelensky, the agreement will give Russia additional financial resources that it could use to continue the war against Ukraine. He also described the decision as disappointing from the standpoint of trust among allied countries.
The United States has imposed sanctions aimed at limiting Russia’s earnings from its energy sector. In this context, the announcement of diesel purchases from Russia is being seen as a contradiction in US policy. On one hand, Washington is trying to curb Russia’s energy income; on the other, it has decided to take supplies from Russia while factoring in domestic fuel needs and prices. The development could affect US-Russia relations, the Ukraine war and India-US trade negotiations.
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