Novak confirms three Russian tankers carrying 500,000 tonnes of diesel to US East Coast

Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak stated on Friday that three fuel tankers are already en route to the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The vessels carry a portion of 500,000 metric tonnes of diesel that Russian companies agreed to supply to US and global markets in October. Novak noted that the Russian Direct Investment Fund provided support for the logistics of the shipment.

The arrangement was finalized this month by US president Donald Trump. Under the deal, Russia commits to supplying diesel to help reduce global fuel prices. In exchange, the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel. This represents a notable shift in Washington's trade policy toward Moscow.

Reuters reported that one of the ships, the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, is loaded with ultra-low sulphur diesel. The vessel is expected to arrive in the United States on 7 November. The arrival marks the first major fuel shipment from Russia to reach US ports under the new waiver.

The fuel deal is unfolding alongside a specific humanitarian pause in the war. The White House announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt all military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky starting 27 October. The pause allows for the delivery of aid and preparations for civilian evacuation.

Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. An estimated 2,000 residents remain in the city, facing severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Local reports indicate that some civilians are surviving on weeds, boiled grass, and bread.

The ceasefire is part of a wider diplomatic effort to end the war. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US agreed to hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. A US official later suggested that the three countries might meet again in a couple of weeks, potentially in Switzerland.

The diplomatic push follows recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv. These include US restrictions on the Starlink communication system used by Ukraine for defense. Trump said on Friday that he would resolve access issues if necessary, potentially by speaking with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Meanwhile, EU leaders pressed UK prime minister Andy Burnham at a Brussels summit to increase financial support for Ukraine's defense.