Russian oil tankers stuck drifting at sea as no buyer takes up Trump’s diesel deal

Russian tankers carrying diesel under President Donald Trump’s deal with Moscow are drifting at sea or turning away because US companies are unwilling to buy the fuel. No Russian tanker has reached the US since the deal was announced on 9 October, leaving its planned exports in doubt and raising questions about whether the presidential waiver shields importers from sanctions liability.

The tanker Agioi Fanendes, carrying 300,000 barrels, changed course while heading for New York and is now off the East Coast; at least three other US-bound ships were turned away last week. The deal called for 2.25 million barrels to be exported immediately, with further deliveries after 1 November, but the total for October and November would cover less than two days of US diesel use. Critics warn of legal and reputational risks, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the fuel could be sold elsewhere.