A tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes of Russian diesel is waiting off the US East Coast for a discharge port after Washington eased sanctions to help bring down fuel prices. Kyiv has criticised the decision, while US diesel still costs more than $6 a gallon.
By Adam Ujazdowski. Polish original published on 11 November 2026 at 12:30:12 UTC.
The shipment follows Donald Trump’s October announcement that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to buyers in the United States and other countries. Washington hoped the deliveries would lower fuel prices, but Kyiv objected to sanctions relief for Moscow while the war continued.
After speaking to Vladimir Putin on 9 October, Trump announced that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, 500,000 tonnes in November and then one million tonnes. On the same day, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a licence authorising transactions covered by specified sanctions relating to the sale, delivery, unloading and import of Russian diesel until 7 April 2027.
Tanker awaits instructions as diesel stays above $6 a gallon
The Maltese-flagged Agioi Fanendes loaded its cargo at Russia’s port of Primorsk on 22 October. Shipping data cited by Reuters initially showed New York as its destination, with arrival expected on 7 November. Three days later, the ship’s operator said it was still awaiting instructions. Other tankers carrying Russian diesel that had been heading towards the US Atlantic coast changed course.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned port and terminal operators that accepting the Russian fuel would violate federal law. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on 10 November that the cargo could go to another port. The administration’s aim, he added, was to get the fuel onto the global market.
US diesel averaged $6.13 a gallon on 9 November, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). That was about 17 cents below the previous week but $2.29 above the level a year earlier.
Michel Duclos of Institut Montaigne argues that even if Russia delivers the promised volumes, the effect on prices will be limited. According to Janes, shipping one million tonnes could require Russia to restore some refinery capacity, draw on inventories or redirect supplies from existing customers. In the last case, the net addition to global supply would be smaller than the announced shipment volumes suggest.
Shadow-fleet tankers switch to the Russian flag
In a July analysis published by Estonia’s International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), Giulio Tomio identified 109 vessels that had switched to the Russian flag. They represented about 18% of the 608 ships included in the study. The pace of reflagging accelerated in 2025 and early 2026.
Tomio argues that Russian registration makes it harder to inspect vessels on the high seas. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea allows a warship to board a vessel in certain circumstances, including when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that it is stateless. Registration also identifies the state responsible for supervising the ship and ensuring compliance with maritime safety standards.
The EU can restrict sanctioned vessels’ access to ports and maritime services. In July, the Council of the EU barred another 41 shadow-fleet vessels from EU ports as part of its 21st sanctions package. In October, it froze the assets of three companies involved in servicing the fleet and prohibited the provision of funds and economic resources to them.
Sanctions relief strains relations with Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the easing of sanctions without a lasting agreement to curb hostilities. At the time, Trump was pressing Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries. Damage to those facilities reduces Russian fuel production and makes it harder to increase the diesel exports sought by the White House.
Writing on 14 October, Duclos said Kyiv had stopped receiving US warnings of Russian attacks two days earlier. Trump maintained that the United States was still sharing intelligence. In an NBC interview on 18 October, Zelensky said Washington had resumed providing information needed to defend against missile attacks after a brief interruption.
Ukraine relies on US support in three areas
Jan Balliauw of Belgium’s Egmont Institute identified three areas in which Ukraine still needs US support in an analysis dated 27 October: interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, intelligence warnings of missile attacks, and Starlink and Starshield satellite communications. An interruption in intelligence provision has an immediate impact. Reduced missile deliveries, meanwhile, make it harder to replenish air-defence stocks.
In mid-October, Reuters reported, citing unnamed officials, that an order to restrict Starshield service for Ukraine had come from the White House. A senior US official denied that Trump himself had issued the order. The White House did not respond to the agency’s question about whether another administration official had made the decision.
Europe develops air defence and satellite networks
Balliauw points to the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG as a European alternative to Patriot. According to France’s defence procurement agency, the first system was delivered in early 2026. France ordered four more in October, bringing its total orders to 12. Ten are due to reach the French armed forces by the end of 2030.
France and Germany have also launched the JEWEL initiative to lay the groundwork for a European missile early-warning system. Balliauw says initial operational readiness is planned for the early 2030s. The EU is developing its own satellite communications network as well: according to the European Commission, the main IRIS² constellation will comprise 348 satellites, with the first launches planned for 2029.
EU disburses another €4.36 billion to Ukraine
Duclos argues that if Washington cuts assistance to Kyiv and continues to strike bilateral deals with Moscow, European countries will have to bear a larger share of the cost of supporting Ukraine.
On 5 November, the European Commission disbursed €4.36 billion to Ukraine from the EU’s €90 billion loan for 2026–2027. Of that amount, €3.7 billion went towards state budget support and €658 million towards defence procurement. According to the Commission, most of the defence funding is intended to finance orders placed with Ukrainian manufacturers.
