Russian Diesel Tankers Reroute Amid Sanctions Dispute
Several oil tankers carrying Russian diesel that were reportedly heading towards the United States have changed course, raising questions over a deal between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring fuel supplies to the American market.
According to shipping data from marine intelligence company Kpler and vessel-tracking platform MarineTraffic, two sanctioned tankers that departed from Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk last month have altered their declared destinations. One vessel is reportedly heading towards Brazil, while the other has entered the Mediterranean Sea.
The developments come after Trump announced in October that 300,000 metric tonnes of Russian diesel would be released into global markets as part of an arrangement with Putin, amid a sharp increase in diesel prices across the United States.
Logistical and Legal Complications
However, the proposed shipments have encountered logistical and legal complications because US sanctions against Russian energy supplies remain largely in place. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that two tankers appeared to have changed their destinations and were no longer heading towards the United States.
Russian presidential envoy and negotiator Kirill Dmitriev rejected the report, describing it as “fake” and claiming that the vessels remained on course for the US. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to disclose specific shipment details, describing them as a commercial matter. He added that “all diesel will find its buyers”.
Opposition from American Officials
Meanwhile, a third tanker travelling through the North Atlantic towards the United States reportedly changed its destination from New York to the vague designation “for orders”, without identifying a specific unloading port.
The proposed arrangement has also faced opposition from American officials concerned about the enforcement of sanctions. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned port and terminal operators against accepting vessels carrying Russian fuel, threatening severe consequences for companies involved in handling the shipments.
In a letter issued earlier this week, Sherrill said that “any effort to profit from the illegal trade in Russian fuel will be met with harsh penalties”. She also questioned the Trump administration’s authority to override the import restrictions enacted by Congress more than four years ago.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal similarly warned shipping companies against violating US sanctions on Russian fuel imports. “No president can unilaterally override a statute. Trump’s license will not absolve you of legal and moral accountability,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter dated October 27.
Original Article: US Bound Russian Diesel Tankers Reroute Amid Sanctions Dispute | Times Now — Timesnownews