Story perspectives

Trump Announces OFAC Diesel Waiver Deal With Putin

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 3:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The administration obtained an OFAC license and waived sanctions, despite 2022 Ending Importation Act.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a 40,000-ton diesel tanker left Primorsk, arriving Nov 7.
Senators and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deal as aiding Russia’s war.
Experts estimate the 300,000-ton shipment meets three-quarters of U.S. diesel needs and won’t shift markets.

History

Historical Context

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, President Jimmy Carter responded by imposing a grain embargo in January 1980 that halted about 4 million metric tons of wheat, hurting U.S. farmers and prompting Ronald Reagan to lift it in April 1981. Decades later, the Trump administration granted an OFAC license to ship 300,000 tons of diesel to Russia, echoing the earlier policy reversal.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The administration obtained an OFAC license and waived sanctions, despite 2022 Ending Importation Act.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a 40,000-ton diesel tanker left Primorsk, arriving Nov 7.
Senators and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deal as aiding Russia’s war.
Experts estimate the 300,000-ton shipment meets three-quarters of U.S. diesel needs and won’t shift markets.

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