Russian diesel tankers appear to head away from US

Two of three tankers linked to Russian diesel shipments bound for the United States appeared on Thursday to be heading elsewhere, even as Moscow said the cargoes remained on course.

US President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil last month as part of a deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to supply hundreds of thousands of tonnes of diesel directly to the United States. The agreement drew objections in Ukraine and Europe.

The Financial Times reported Wednesday that two tankers that left the Russian port of Primorsk in mid-October appeared to have changed destination and were no longer headed to the United States.

Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin envoy and negotiator, rejected the report on X, writing: "Fake. Tankers destined for the US continue on course."

MarineTraffic data showed the sanctioned tanker Talisman off the Tunisian coast on Thursday. It had passed through the English Channel on October 29, then turned south, passed the Bay of Biscay and the Portuguese coast, and entered the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar on Monday. Its initial route had listed an arrival on the US east coast on November 9.

Kpler said the Talisman no longer listed a destination port and was carrying 324,000 barrels of diesel. Kpler data also showed the tanker Leruo listing Brazil as its destination as it sailed southwest through the Atlantic.

A third tanker, the Agioi Fanendes, still listed New York as its destination and was scheduled to dock there on Saturday, according to Kpler.

Asked about the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said shipment details were a commercial matter that could not be made public. He added: "All diesel will find its buyers."