Trump-Putin diesel deal collapses as sanctions drive Russian tankers away from US

President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be unravelling after two tankers carrying Russian fuel turned away from the US this week, The Independent reports.

According to the Financial Times, the Russian tanker Talisman and Hong Kong-owned Leruo abandoned the US Atlantic Coast as their declared destination.

The Leruo switched its destination to Brazil on Monday, while the sanctioned Talisman is off Algeria, signalling “for orders”, with no confirmed buyer.

Two other tankers are still heading towards the US.

The deal, announced on October 9, sparked backlash, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he felt “betrayed”.

“Why doesn’t America then conclude a diesel deal with Ukraine? Let’s propose a diesel deal with Ukraine,” Zelensky said at the time.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said: “This deal doesn’t help neither the price of oil products nor the unity of the transatlantic community.”

It comes as Trump’s party suffered a crushing defeat in this week’s midterm elections.