MOSCOW -- Russia will dispatch its first tanker with diesel for the United States on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, according to the Vedomosti news outlet, after a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. Russia lifted its self-imposed ban on diesel exports on October 9, introduced to tackle domestic shortages triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, after reaching the deal with Trump to supply diesel to global markets. Novak said on Wednesday the vessel will carry 40,000 metric tons of the fuel, adding that the paperwork on the fuel supply is nearing its completion, according to media reports. He did not name the port from which the cargo will be delivered. “Additional shipments will follow, of course. There were agreements reached between the two leaders. We will meet the United States’ needs, to the extent of our capabilities,” RIA news agency quoted Novak as saying. Trump has said Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.” The U.S. exports about 1.5 million barrels of diesel per day. Russian President Vladimir Putin was hosting U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, after the U.S.-Russia diesel export deal led to a sharp deterioration in ties between the United States and Ukraine. During the talks in St Petersburg, Witkoff thanked Putin for lifting the export restrictions. Putin also mentioned the deal, saying that global diesel prices dropped by five-six per cent after the agreement. “That’s an example of us working together, I want to thank you for that,” Witkoff said in televised comments. Putin also said that first Russian tankers with diesel will departs in two to three days. “We are preparing deliveries of several vessels, the tankers, right now. They will go one after another. The financial component should be provided,” he said, adding that Russia also would be able to supply fertilizers in “large quantities” to the U.S. market. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Louise Heavens; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Aidan Lewis)
