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By Taryn Pedler
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Three tankers carrying Russian diesel fuel, including two vessels reportedly subject to Western sanctions, are heading toward the U.S. as President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume fuel shipments.
The tankers—identified as the Agioi Fanendes, Leruo and Talisman, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler—left Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk between October 16 and 22 and are expected to reach the U.S. East Coast between November 7 and 11, as per vessel-tracking data reported by AFP on Wednesday.
The Agioi Fanendes has been identified as heading toward New York, while the destinations of the other two vessels have been described more generally as the Atlantic Coast. According to Kpler, the three ships are carrying a combined 924,000 barrels of diesel, which is approximately one-third of the U.S. transportation sector's daily consumption.
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The shipments follow an agreement announced by Trump this month to allow Russian diesel back onto international markets in an effort to reduce fuel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The White House referred Newsweek to the president’s remarks when asked for comment on the agreement.
The deal has prompted criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and members of Trump's own Republican Party, who argue that easing restrictions could benefit Moscow while its war against Ukraine continues.
What We Know About the Three Tankers
The tankers are in waters around the United Kingdom and northern Europe, according to MarineTraffic data reviewed on Wednesday.
The first vessel identified in reports is the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, which loaded approximately 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Primorsk on October 22.
According to Reuters, citing LSEG shipping data, the tanker initially listed New York as its destination and was expected to arrive on November 7.
However, Lloyd's List reported on October 26 that the vessel was idling off Skagen, Denmark, and later tracking information indicated that its destination had changed to "for orders," leaving its final destination uncertain. It is in the U.K. Coast and Atlantic region.
Newsweek has approached the Agioi Fanendes ship manager, Eastmed, for comment via email.
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The second vessel, the Leruo, is a Sierra Leone-flagged oil products tanker that loaded diesel at Primorsk on October 16.
The vessel was reportedly sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union last year over its transportation of Russian cargoes and practices including disabling location technology, ship-to-ship transfers and breaches of the G7 oil price cap.
Shipping reports have identified its intended destination as the Atlantic Coast, with an estimated arrival around November 11.
It is in the North Sea, according to MarineTraffic data, although its live position has not been updated for four days.
The third vessel, the Talisman, has also been identified in Kpler data as carrying Russian diesel toward the U.S. It is believed to be subject to U.S. and European Union sanctions, and its expected arrival has been reported as around November 9. It is also in the North Sea, as per MarineTraffic data.
The reported involvement of sanctioned vessels raises questions about the legal arrangements governing the shipments, including the scope of the U.S. authorization for Russian fuel imports and how it interacts with restrictions imposed by other Western governments.
Newsweek has approached the Treasury Department for comment via email.
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What Is the Trump-Putin Diesel Deal?
Trump announced the agreement on October 9 after speaking with Putin, saying Russia would supply diesel to the American and global markets.
Trump presented the arrangement as an effort to reduce fuel prices for American consumers, particularly farmers, ranchers and truckers, ahead of the midterm. He initially announced that Russia would supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 metric tons in November and additional shipments thereafter.
The agreement marked a significant shift in U.S. policy following restrictions imposed on Russian energy imports after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The U.S. Treasury Department then issued a temporary six-month authorization allowing certain Russian diesel shipments to proceed, with the reported exemption extending through April 2027.
Russia had also restricted diesel exports amid domestic supply pressures and disruptions to its refining sector.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on October 24 that the first three tankers were heading toward the eastern Atlantic coast as part of arrangements to supply the United States and other international markets.
But on Tuesday, Novak said a fourth tanker was expected to depart the following day.
The Kremlin has described the shipments as the beginning of further deliveries, although the scale and timing of later exports have not been confirmed.
Ukraine Condemns the Agreement
The deal has intensified tensions between Washington and Kyiv.
Zelensky criticized the agreement, describing the easing of sanctions as a sign of weakness and warning that it could allow Russia to prolong its war against Ukraine. He has argued that allowing Moscow to earn additional revenue from petroleum exports undermines international efforts to pressure the Kremlin into ending the war.
Trump, meanwhile, has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to pressure on fuel supplies and prices. On October 10, he said Ukraine should replace Zelensky with a leader willing to reach an agreement with Russia.
The comments followed the announcement of the diesel arrangement and further strained relations between the two presidents. However, Kyiv has maintained that its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are a response to Moscow's repeated strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
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Republicans Also Raise Concerns
The agreement has faced criticism in Washington, including from members of the GOP.
On October 11, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said there was a legitimate question over whether the president's actions complied with U.S. law.
A group of senators from both parties went on to call on Trump to reverse the agreement, arguing that allowing Russian fuel sales could provide additional revenue to the Kremlin without delivering meaningful benefits to American consumers.
The dispute has also raised questions about the administration's authority to suspend or waive sanctions adopted by Congress.
The administration has defended the move as part of its efforts to address fuel prices and increase pressure on Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war.
Asked about Republican criticism of his diesel deal with Russia, Trump dismissed the concerns, arguing that restricting American oil and diesel supplies could have wider consequences for global markets.
“Well, I think these are Republicans that can’t really be serious,” Trump said.
He argued that the U.S. could restrict oil exports or reserve diesel supplies for domestic use but warned that doing so would have a significant impact elsewhere.
“And it’s not really a deal with me. It’s a deal for the rest of the world,” Trump said.
The extent to which the shipments will affect U.S. diesel prices remains uncertain, but analysts have questioned whether redirecting Russian exports to the United States will materially increase global supply or simply shift existing shipments away from other buyers.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Dave Siminoff.
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