Zelensky Says No One Will Touch Russian Diesel Tankers Bound for U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out attacks on Russian diesel tankers heading to the United States under an agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, while warning that the arrangement could pave the way for wider sanctions relief for Moscow.

"Regarding the ships that left Russia for America: no one is touching these ships, because these are ships related to the United States," Zelensky told journalists on October 28, according to Ukrinform.

The Ukrainian president drew a distinction between the shipments covered by the U.S.-Russia agreement and Kyiv's military operations against Russian infrastructure. He said Ukrainian forces had received no instruction to suspend responses to Russian attacks.

Zelensky Warns of Broader Sanctions Relief

Zelensky said the diesel agreement risked becoming a starting point for further economic concessions to Russia.

"I believe the diesel deal opens the door for the Russians to take further similar steps. These could be fertilisers, gas, frozen assets, and other individuals and entities that could have sanctions lifted."

The warning followed Trump's October 9 announcement of an agreement with Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies to the United States and international markets.

Under the announced arrangement, Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and a further 1 million tonnes afterward.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control subsequently issued a temporary general license permitting transactions involving Russian-origin diesel.

Zelensky had previously described the agreement as "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged". Its announcement coincided with the presence of a Ukrainian negotiating delegation in Miami.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on October 27 that the diesel arrangements were commercial in nature and carried no conditions.

Three Russian Diesel Tankers Approach U.S.

Three vessels carrying approximately 924,000 barrels of Russian diesel, equivalent to around 140,000 tonnes, are traveling toward the U.S. East Coast, according to Kpler shipping data cited by AFP.

The Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, carrying roughly 40,000 tonnes, is expected to reach New York around November 7.

Two other vessels are scheduled to arrive shortly afterward. The Talisman, sanctioned by the United States, U.K. and European Union, is expected around November 9, while the Leruo, sanctioned by the U.K., EU and Canada, is due around November 11.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on October 27 that a fourth tanker was expected to depart the following day.

Ukraine Maintains Right to Strike Russian Refineries

Despite the decision not to target the U.S.-bound tankers, Zelensky said Kyiv had not abandoned military operations against Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine temporarily suspended attacks on Russian refineries for approximately three days in early October as part of an effort to reduce tensions. Zelensky said Kyiv had repeatedly received messages urging it to refrain from such operations.

He has offered to halt strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow ends attacks on Ukraine's electricity grid. He has also argued that Russian supply volumes would have little significant impact on the global market.

Zelensky acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had recently exercised greater caution but stressed that retaliatory operations remained authorized.

He pointed to operations involving the Ryazan refinery, data centers and locations associated with Russian ballistic weapons as examples of Kyiv's responses to Russian strikes.

Washington Pressures Kyiv Over Energy Strikes

The refinery dispute has also exposed pressure from Washington over Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy facilities.

Axios reported that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had warned Ukrainian officials that continued refinery strikes could jeopardize Kyiv's access to U.S. intelligence.

Trump has publicly attributed the diesel shortage in the United States to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

The agreement has also encountered opposition in Washington. Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks introduced bipartisan legislation on October 16 intended to block the Russian diesel arrangement.

Democrats are also preparing to investigate the agreement if they gain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.

For Kyiv, the distinction remains between avoiding tankers associated with the United States and retaining the ability to strike Russian targets in response to attacks on Ukraine. Zelensky's broader concern is that the diesel agreement could establish a path toward lifting further restrictions on Moscow.