Last Russian Diesel Tanker Bound for US Turns Back Off American Coast
The vessel Agioi Fanendes changed course approximately 740 kilometers from New York, Bloomberg reports , citing vessel tracking services.
Tanker Agioi Fanendes. Photo: vesselfinder.com
The tanker departed from the Russian port of Primorsk on October 22. New York was indicated as the destination. The vessel now reports that it is awaiting further orders.
According to tracking services, no vessel carrying Russian diesel fuel has reached US shores. Last month, Russia sent four tankers as part of the so-called "diesel deal".
On November 5, the Financial Times reported that two of them — Leruo and Talisman — changed their routes. The first headed for Brazil, the second for the Mediterranean Sea. A third vessel, Beast, also turned towards Brazil.
Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, in response to these reports, stated that the deliveries had been made. According to him, these are commercial transactions, so their details cannot be public, but all the diesel fuel will find its buyers.
Putin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev called the Financial Times' information a fake. He claimed that tankers heading to the US continue to move according to their planned routes.
The agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies to the US drew criticism in the American Congress. Donald Trump agreed with Putin on these supplies weeks before the midterm elections. The White House expected this to lower fuel prices amidst a shortage of petroleum products.
However, some Democrats and Republicans questioned the legality of the agreement and demanded its cancellation. American buyers are also in no hurry to purchase Russian fuel due to legal and sanctions risks.
According to the Financial Times, US diesel fuel reserves have fallen to less than 100 million barrels — for the first time in over 20 years. The deficit is linked to a reduction in global oil refining capacities amid the wars in Ukraine and Iran.