Türkiye to buy Russian fuel under Trump's diesel deal
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Türkiye plans to purchase some of the diesel fuel Russia will supply to global markets under an agreement with US President Donald Trump, according to Reuters.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the diesel fuel deal is important for the country's energy security.
Türkiye imports energy resources from several countries, including Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. At the same time, Ankara is seeking to diversify its supplies and expand cooperation with the US and other partners.
"Russia imposed restrictions on diesel exports in recent months when they started experiencing this problem. Now they reached a diesel deal with Trump... Through the talks we held, we will take some of that diesel to Türkiye," Bayraktar said.
He did not specify the volumes involved or the terms under which Türkiye would receive the fuel.
The deal has already drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European officials, and some members of the US Republican Party.
US-Russia diesel deal
As previously reported, the United States recently eased sanctions restrictions on Russian diesel fuel temporarily. The US Treasury issued a license allowing its supply through April 7, 2027. This gives Russia an opportunity to return millions of tons of fuel to US and global markets.
Moscow has already announced plans to resume diesel exports at 3 million to 3.5 million tons per month by the end of the year. Russian officials hope to return to pre-crisis levels and even exceed previously announced volumes. For the Kremlin, this is not only an opportunity to increase energy sales but also a chance to generate additional revenue.
At the same time, Washington's decision has a political dimension. US President Donald Trump wants to lower fuel prices ahead of the elections, and the diesel deal with Moscow could help him achieve that goal. However, the strategy also plays into the Kremlin's hands.
In addition, Trump signed an executive order suspending Graham-backed sanctions against Russia. These include sweeping tariffs, restrictions, and sanctions targeting countries and companies that buy Russian energy.
