Russia says three tankers with diesel en route to US

MOSCOW: Three tankers carrying Russian diesel are en route to the United States, with a fourth expected to depart Wednesday, Moscow said, part of a deal that triggered a fierce Ukrainian and European backlash.

US President Donald Trump this month struck an agreement with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions in exchange for Moscow releasing diesel onto global markets.

The measure was seen as an attempt to lower fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the US midterm legislative elections on November 3, and drew sharp criticism from Ukraine and its allies.

"At present, three tankers" with Russian fuel are on their way to the United States, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Tuesday. A fourth was expected to set off on Wednesday, he added.

The first US-bound tanker with Russian diesel departed last week.

According to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler, it loaded nearly 300,000 barrels of diesel at the Primorsk terminal and was headed to New York.

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since the US-Russia diesel deal, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a "weak decision."