Russia and the United States have reached an agreement, and tankers have now arrived at port—yet the true motives behind the move remain carefully calculated.

Just as Russia and the U.S. finalized a crude oil agreement, the first tanker carrying Russian diesel has already arrived off the U.S. East Coast.

The presidential-level deal between Moscow and Washington on the supply of Russian diesel was confirmed by both sides yesterday and remains a central topic in media coverage. Ukraine has reacted strongly to the development, though its position carries little weight with the American administration.

Amid growing criticism from Western voices over the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Russian petroleum products, an unexpected catalyst emerged. Citing sources from leading global maritime logistics experts and vessel tracking services, Western media reported that the first tanker laden with Russian diesel is now approaching the U.S. East Coast. The vessel is expected to arrive within two to three days, most likely docking at the port of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The tanker, named MINERVA ZEN, departed from St. Petersburg on September 22 and followed a direct route toward the U.S. coast. It is carrying 280,000 barrels of diesel, approximately 38,000 metric tons. Notably, the vessel is registered under a Greek company, not a Russian entity.

If confirmed, the shipment signifies that the public announcement of the U.S.-Russia agreement yesterday served largely as a ceremonial gesture. According to reports, the transaction had already been settled nearly three weeks prior to the official declaration, with the Trump administration promoting it as a major political victory ahead of the upcoming election. The U.S. Treasury issued a license permitting the import of Russian diesel on October 9—by which time the fuel had already been loaded onto the vessel, indicating that shipments dispatched before the agreement’s formalization are included.

Ukrainian media and social platforms have expressed widespread alarm. Some outlets claim that because the tanker sailed before the deal was publicly announced, Russia and the U.S. effectively bypassed Ukraine and Europe in concluding their arrangement.

In fact, throughout January this year, Russia exported roughly 6.24 million tons of diesel and gasoline via the Baltic Sea, 4.81 million tons from the Far East, 1.77 million tons from the Northern region, and 1.48 million tons from the Black Sea. Most of these vessels were either drifting in international waters or anchored in nearby friendly ports.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1878724803137536/

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