Seven tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are en route to the United States. Uncertainty surrounds whether the vessels will be able to offload amid ongoing political disputes over the legality of the shipments.
The convoy, monitored by the environmental group Greenpeace, marks the first phase of a controversial supply agreement reached between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, marking a reversal of years of Western sanctions against Russian oil.
Contrary to earlier reports that identified only three vessels departing Baltic Sea terminals, Greenpeace has employed a broader dataset of tracking sources to compile what it deems the most comprehensive current inventory of these shipments.
Greenpeace energy expert Shaun Burnie contends that the tankers’ current positions can now be accurately plotted, and that U.S. authorities or Congress should intervene to halt these shipments given their legal implications.
“Instead of rewarding Russia for its conflict with Ukraine, punitive measures should be applied. These shipments can be stopped,” he said.
Among the seven vessels, the Taurus is currently nearer to the United States, while the remaining six were positioned close to the United Kingdom at the time the map was published, with three transiting or entering the English Channel.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone strike at a densely populated train platform in Dnipro’s central hub on Thursday morning resulted in at least 14 fatalities. Additional casualties, including five more people killed during daytime airstrikes in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk earlier that day, underscore the ongoing conflict.
Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway operator, reported that a high-speed, jet-powered drone impacted a commuter train as it prepared to depart Dnipro’s main station. The attack, occurring at approximately 11:00 local time, left bodies scattered on the platform.
President Putin unveiled a surprise agreement with the United States on October 9, committing to deliver 1.8 million tonnes of diesel, beginning with an initial 300,000-tonne shipment. President Trump concurrently announced a six-month suspension of existing sanctions to facilitate the vessel movements.
Since October 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the nation has faced extensive economic sanctions from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other leading Western economies. This autumn, the White House pivoted toward negotiations, seeking closer cooperation with the Kremlin despite continued hostilities.
Earlier this week, a coalition of U.S. lawmakers headed by several Democratic senators cautioned financial institutions and port authorities that they risk congressional scrutiny and legal repercussions should they facilitate the unloading of the Russian diesel.
Senator Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, indicated she is evaluating measures to prevent the diesel from being offloaded should U.S. authorities attempt to do so within the state. She characterized the transaction as “corrupt and illegal.”
Despite these reports, the White House has pursued incentives to secure private sector participation, yet clear buyers remain elusive given the significant legal risks preceding the February midterm elections.
The administration argued that the Russia supply agreement would help reduce diesel costs, though per-gallon prices have climbed from $6.28 at the deal’s announcement to $6.33, per the American Automobile Association.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the arrangement, stating that revenues would fund the Kremlin’s continued aggression. The president argued that “backroom deals” afforded Putin additional battlefield opportunities.
The Kremlin has sought to obscure details regarding recent oil shipments, issuing a presidential decree at the end of September that limited public disclosure of export data to help evade international sanctions.
Seven tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are en route to the United States. Uncertainty surrounds whether the vessels will be able to offload amid ongoing political disputes over the legality of the shipments.
The convoy, monitored by the environmental group Greenpeace, marks the first phase of a controversial supply agreement reached between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, marking a reversal of years of Western sanctions against Russian oil.
Contrary to earlier reports that identified only three vessels departing Baltic Sea terminals, Greenpeace has employed a broader dataset of tracking sources to compile what it deems the most comprehensive current inventory of these shipments.
Greenpeace energy expert Shaun Burnie contends that the tankers’ current positions can now be accurately plotted, and that U.S. authorities or Congress should intervene to halt these shipments given their legal implications.
“Instead of rewarding Russia for its conflict with Ukraine, punitive measures should be applied. These shipments can be stopped,” he said.
Among the seven vessels, the Taurus is currently nearer to the United States, while the remaining six were positioned close to the United Kingdom at the time the map was published, with three transiting or entering the English Channel.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone strike at a densely populated train platform in Dnipro’s central hub on Thursday morning resulted in at least 14 fatalities. Additional casualties, including five more people killed during daytime airstrikes in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk earlier that day, underscore the ongoing conflict.
Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway operator, reported that a high-speed, jet-powered drone impacted a commuter train as it prepared to depart Dnipro’s main station. The attack, occurring at approximately 11:00 local time, left bodies scattered on the platform.
President Putin unveiled a surprise agreement with the United States on October 9, committing to deliver 1.8 million tonnes of diesel, beginning with an initial 300,000-tonne shipment. President Trump concurrently announced a six-month suspension of existing sanctions to facilitate the vessel movements.
Since October 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the nation has faced extensive economic sanctions from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other leading Western economies. This autumn, the White House pivoted toward negotiations, seeking closer cooperation with the Kremlin despite continued hostilities.
Earlier this week, a coalition of U.S. lawmakers headed by several Democratic senators cautioned financial institutions and port authorities that they risk congressional scrutiny and legal repercussions should they facilitate the unloading of the Russian diesel.
Senator Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, indicated she is evaluating measures to prevent the diesel from being offloaded should U.S. authorities attempt to do so within the state. She characterized the transaction as “corrupt and illegal.”
Despite these reports, the White House has pursued incentives to secure private sector participation, yet clear buyers remain elusive given the significant legal risks preceding the February midterm elections.
The administration argued that the Russia supply agreement would help reduce diesel costs, though per-gallon prices have climbed from $6.28 at the deal’s announcement to $6.33, per the American Automobile Association.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the arrangement, stating that revenues would fund the Kremlin’s continued aggression. The president argued that “backroom deals” afforded Putin additional battlefield opportunities.
The Kremlin has sought to obscure details regarding recent oil shipments, issuing a presidential decree at the end of September that limited public disclosure of export data to help evade international sanctions.
