Russia just sent America its first diesel tanker since the war began

Russia's first diesel tanker for the United States is due to leave port tomorrow, on 22 October.

It's the first commercial fuel shipment of its kind in four years.

Alexander Novak, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister, announced it to reporters in St Petersburg a few hours ago.

The tanker carries 40,000 tonnes of diesel. Novak says more shipments will follow.

Novak says quote "The first tanker is planned to depart tomorrow, bound for the United States".

So that's Russia's own government confirming the date and the ship, in public, before it has even sailed.

This goes back to a phone call.

On 9 October, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke. They agreed Russia would start supplying diesel to the US and global markets again.

Trump says the deal covers more than 300,000 tonnes straight away. Then 500,000 tonnes in November. Then it rises in stages toward 5 million tonnes a year, depending on how much Russia's refineries can produce.

Russian diesel has been under US sanctions since 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.

So how is this shipment legal now? The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a temporary licence allowing it. And Russia's own government partially lifted its diesel export ban on its side, from 11 days ago.

Both governments moved in step to make tomorrow's tanker possible.

Novak says the contracts between Russia and the US for the diesel supply are close to being finalised. He says Russia could fully restore its diesel export volumes by the end of the year.

Not everyone in Washington agrees with this.

Four days ago, Democratic congressman Gregory Meeks introduced a bill to block the deal. Seventeen other members of Congress backed it, including Republican Don Bacon.