Seven Russian Diesel Tankers Sail Toward US as Legality Row Grows
Seven oil tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are sailing towards the United States, according to a tracker run by Greenpeace. It is not yet clear whether the ships will be able to unload, because the shipments are the subject of a political dispute over whether they are legal.
The voyage is the first phase of a supply deal between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed to supply the US with 1.8 million tonnes of diesel in a deal announced on October 9, 2026, and the agreement was to start with 300,000 tonnes straight away. Earlier counts had put the number of tankers that had left Russian oil terminals in the Baltic Sea at three. Greenpeace now puts the figure at seven.
Greenpeace's live tracker showed the ships at different points on their route when it was first published. Five were close to the UK, and three were moving through or into the English Channel. One of the seven, the Taurus, is relatively close to the US.
The legal question centres on sanctions, which are restrictions that limit trade with a country or its companies. Trump has announced a six-month waiver, meaning official permission to set aside existing sanctions for a set period, to allow the Russian diesel shipments to go ahead. Greenpeace says the ships are sailing under sanctions and that the diesel's open-market value triggers sanctions set by European countries and the UK. The group has said the first shipment under the Trump agreement is aimed at destroying the international sanctions regime.
Opposition has come from Washington and beyond. A group of US lawmakers led by Democratic senators has warned banks and port authorities that they could face congressional investigations and other legal action if they handle the diesel. Members of Congress from both parties have opposed the agreement.
New Jersey's governor, Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, has described the deal as "corrupt and illegal". She said she was looking at how to prevent the diesel from being unloaded if an attempt were made in her state.
On the Russian side, Putin issued a presidential decree on September 28, 2026, restricting the publication and use of detailed information on Russian oil and energy exports. The decree covers prices, counterparties, transport routes, terminals, storage facilities and customs data.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said the United States could allow more Russian diesel shipments, depending on Moscow's actions.
