Russia sending first diesel shipment to US on Thursday

Russia is going to send its first tanker with diesel to the U.S. on Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

According to a Reuters report citing the RIA news agency and other media, Novak said Wednesday the vessel will carry 40,000 metric tons of fuel.

“Additional shipments will follow, of course. There were ​agreements reached between the two leaders. We will meet the United States’ needs, to ​the extent of our capabilities,” Novak said.

Earlier this month, President Trump said Russia would “immediately” supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and the global marketplace. In a Truth Social post on Oct. 9, the president wrote that the country would export “another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.”

Trump’s deal with Russia prompted criticism from lawmakers across the board. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s decision.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, and Putin agreed to resume trilateral talks “in principle” with Washington and Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

During Wednesday’s talks, Putin said the country is preparing for the deliveries of Russian tankers with diesel, according to Reuters.

“They will go one after another. The ​financial component should be provided,” the Russian leader said.

Putin added that, along with diesel, Russia also would be able to supply fertilizers in “large quantities” ​to the U.S. market.

Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher who was accused of being a Ukrainian mercenary, was released Wednesday after more than four years in detention. Witkoff called the Russian leader a “humanitarian” for releasing Hubbard and faced intense backlash .