Trump eases Russian diesel curbs as 3 tankers head toward US
What's new: The first approved shipments have triggered a Capitol Hill backlash and fresh criticism from Ukraine as diesel prices climb.
The Trump administration is allowing more Russian diesel onto the market under a sanctions waiver, with three tankers crossing the Atlantic toward U.S. ports and a fourth expected to depart soon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the move as leverage to push Moscow toward ending the war in Ukraine while also easing tight fuel supplies. CNBC reported Trump reached a deal with Vladimir Putin covering 800,000 metric tons of diesel in October and November, followed by another 1 million tons. The move has drawn bipartisan criticism in Congress and objections from Kyiv, which argues the trade helps fund Russia's war effort despite recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.