President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to supply diesel fuel following what Trump described as a “highly successful discussion,” according to a statement he posted Oct. 9.
Trump said Russia would provide more than 300,000 tons immediately, another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons afterward. He also said an additional 3 million tons could be delivered later, depending on the condition of Russian diesel refineries. The source material does not include a statement from the Russian government or independent confirmation that shipments have begun.
Trump said the proposed supply, along with U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz, would bring diesel prices down. He also described lower fuel costs for farmers, ranchers and truckers as a priority.
The announcement comes amid elevated fuel costs and the wars in Iran and Ukraine, which the source identifies as contributing to higher diesel prices. It reports that the national average reached $6.26 per gallon last month and that several trucking and freight companies filed for bankruptcy. The article also says Trump signed an executive order this week allowing continued tax- and penalty-free use of red-dyed diesel that is normally restricted.
At the White House on Friday, Trump said prices would fall and referred to the conflict in Iran. He also made claims about U.S. military actions and a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz; those claims are not independently verified in the supplied material.
