Novak Says 3 Tankers Carry 500,000t Diesel to US as Oleshky Ceasefire Takes Effect

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday that three tankers loaded with diesel are currently sailing toward the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The vessels represent the initial delivery under a new agreement where Russian companies will supply 500,000 metric tonnes of fuel to US and global markets throughout October. Novak stated that the Russian Direct Investment Fund is providing support for these shipments.

This arrangement, which was announced this month by US President Donald Trump, involves a mutual concession. Russia agreed to release diesel into world markets to help reduce fuel prices, while the US agreed to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian fuel. According to reports from Reuters, one of the ships, the Malta-flagged medium tanker Agioi Fanendes, is carrying ultra-low sulphur diesel. It is scheduled to arrive in the United States on November 7.

The fuel deliveries coincide with a diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine. The White House confirmed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky. Military operations in the city will halt starting October 27. This pause is intended to allow aid delivery and prepare for the evacuation of civilians. Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since February 2022, leaving an estimated 2,000 residents with severe shortages of food, water, and electricity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US have agreed to hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. A US official indicated that a further meeting could occur within two weeks, potentially in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland. Zelenskyy expressed hope that a summit between the three countries' leaders would follow these technical discussions.

The diplomatic efforts follow recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv. These included US limits on the Starlink communication system used by Ukraine for defense. President Trump stated on Friday that he would resolve any remaining access issues, possibly by speaking with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Meanwhile, EU leaders met in Brussels to press UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham for increased defense contributions from the UK, Canada, and Japan.

In a separate development, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that repairs to power infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are complete. The work was conducted under a temporary ceasefire brokered by the agency. The repairs strengthened the plant's connection to its only remaining external power line, known as Ferosplavna-1, reducing the risk of losing off-site electricity at Europe's largest nuclear station.