Russian Diesel Not For Us, For World Markets: Trump Defends Russia Deal Amid Questions Over India Tariffs

US President Donald Trump has defended a controversial arrangement to release Russian diesel into global markets, insisting the fuel is not intended for American consumers but to ease energy price pressures. The move has sparked bipartisan criticism in Washington and renewed debate over the US approach to Russian energy imports, particularly after India faced tariffs and criticism for purchasing Russian oil.

On October 9, Trump announced that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes “immediately thereafter”. To facilitate the shipments, the US Treasury Department issued a temporary licence easing sanctions on Russian diesel shipments to global markets until April 7, 2027.

“ That's a diesel deal. Not for us. That's being released into the world. That's not being released to us,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday, arguing that the arrangement was intended to stabilise global markets hit by high prices and disruptions to refining capacity linked to the Iran war.

However, the decision has drawn comparisons with Washington's earlier treatment of India over its purchases of Russian crude oil. In an October 14 opinion article for Firstpost, Prabhu Dayal argued that the US was applying different standards to Russian energy purchases, criticising India for buying Russian oil while allowing Russian diesel shipments to enter global markets when American fuel prices came under pressure.

India faced a 25 per cent additional tariff on its goods in 2025 over its purchases of Russian oil, with Washington arguing that the trade helped finance Moscow's war against Ukraine. In September 2026, Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which authorises sweeping economic measures against Russia and countries supporting its war effort, including potential tariffs of up to 100 per cent on certain trading partners.

The diesel arrangement has also triggered opposition from 12 bipartisan US senators. In a letter to Trump on Tuesday, they called the deal a “gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies” and urged him to rescind it.

The lawmakers argued that Russian diesel entering global markets would provide limited relief from high fuel prices while generating revenue for Moscow's military campaign. They also raised concerns about Russia's security cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea.