Trump Eases Russia Sanctions Through April 7 for Diesel Release as Futures Drop 4%
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Oct 9
Trump Eases Russia Sanctions Through April 7 for Diesel Release as Futures Drop 4%
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 9
Summary
Treasury on Friday issued a temporary general license allowing sales, delivery and even U.S. imports of Russian diesel through 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 7, 2027.
Trump said Putin would immediately release hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to global markets to cool prices that have surged almost 70% since the Iran war began in February.
Markets reacted quickly: diesel futures fell 4% after the announcement, though they are still up more than 110% this year, while Brent crude slipped just 0.3% to about $104 a barrel.
Zelenskyy called the sanctions relief "an obvious weakness," saying it would help fund Russia's war, as Kyiv has resisted Trump's push to halt strikes on Russian energy assets without reciprocal Russian restraint.
The waiver revives Trump's earlier use of short-term Russia sanctions relief to ease fuel costs, but it also clouds new U.S.-Ukraine talks as Russian diesel exports remain constrained by Moscow's own ban through October.