Tankers carrying Russian diesel to the US change course

Several sanctioned tankers headed for the US carrying Russian diesel are said to have changed course, one toward Brazil and the other into the Mediterranean, according to data from marine data company Kpler and vessel traffic site MarineTraffic.com.

The tankers reportedly departed from the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk last month and had declared their destinations as the US east coast.

This all comes after US President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil last month, in a deal with with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to secure a large amount of diesel directly to the US at a time when diesel prices have skyrocketed across the country.

The agreement caused shock and drew criticism in Ukraine and Europe. But it also was a logistical challenge, given that sanctions against Russia still remain in place.

It was also widely reported at the time that the amount of diesel in question was a fraction of the US daily demand. 

Russia says reports are 'fake'

UK newspaper The Financial Times (FT) reported Wednesday that two of the tankers appeared to have changed their destination and were no longer headed to the United States.

Russian envoy and negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said on Thursday that the US-bound diesel tankers were still on course.

"Fake. Tankers destined for the US continue on course," Dmitriev said on X, linking to the FT story.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said detail of shipments were a "commercial" matter that could not be made public.

"All diesel will find its buyers," he added, without elaborating.

A third vessel was still in the North Atlantic headed toward the US but changed its destination from New York to a vague "for orders," without listing an unloading point. 

Can Trump’s diesel deal bring down US fuel prices?

NJ governor threatens 'harsh penalties'

Despite the fact that the US Treasury Department temporarily authorized Russian diesel transactions, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned port and terminal operators to turn away ships carrying the fuel.

In a letter earlier this week, she warned that "any effort to profit from the illegal trade in Russian fuel will be met with harsh penalties.”

Sherrill accused the Trump administration of lacking authority in overriding the import ban enacted by Congress more than four years ago.

She said New Jersey would act to prevent state facilities and companies from handling Russian fuel.

In a letter dated October 27, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal warned shipping companies against violating US sanctions forbidding imports of Russian fuel. 

"No president can unilaterally override a statute. Trump's license will not absolve you of legal and moral accountability," the letter read.