Greenpeace Counts Seven Tankers With 288,000 Tonnes of Russian Diesel Bound for U.S., Up From Three in Earlier Tally

Since the Oct. 9 Trump-Putin diesel agreement, the public count of Russian tankers heading for U.S. ports has stood at three, with a fourth expected to depart Russia Oct. 28. Greenpeace now says the real number is seven.

The group, using ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic and Kpler, published an interactive map identifying the vessels: Taurus, Pvt Azura, Agioi Fanendes, Talisman, Leruo, Iblea and Primorye. It estimates they carry about 288,000 metric tons of diesel between them. That is Greenpeace's estimate, not a figure from the shippers or either government.

The earlier three-ship tally came to roughly 140,000 metric tons.

Where the ships are

Taurus is the vessel closest to the U.S. According to Greenpeace's map, five of the others were near the UK when it was first published, and three were in or entering the English Channel.

The map lists each ship's declared destination, cargo and sanctions status. Greenpeace warns that tankers can change course or broadcast false destinations, so the picture needs constant updating.

Only one vessel is identified in the sources as signaling a U.S. port. Agioi Fanendes, a Malta-flagged tanker, loaded ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Primorsk and listed New York as its destination. Estimates of its arrival differ: LSEG and Kpler data point to Nov. 7, while the market intelligence firm Energy Aspects says Nov. 10. The cargo is about 40,000 metric tons, or roughly 298,000 to 327,000 barrels depending on the estimate.

Energy Aspects analysts said the cargo's impact on prices would likely be "limited." U.S. daily diesel demand is about 3.8 million barrels, according to NBC News.

The deal's size

Under the agreement, Putin agreed to supply 1.8 million tonnes of diesel, starting with 300,000 tonnes immediately. Trump has described a plan for another 500,000 tons by November and 1 million tons after that. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a temporary general license on Oct. 9, and Trump announced a six-month waiver on existing sanctions.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has said additional shipments will follow as Russian and U.S. companies work out delivery contracts. He said Russian diesel exports could return to 3 million to 3.5 million metric tons a month by year-end. Novak confirmed this week that three ships were under way and the fourth had not yet departed.

The legal fight

Greenpeace is arguing the shipments can be blocked. "Instead of rewarding Russia for its vile war against Ukraine, there needs to be more punitive sanctions against Russia," said Shaun Burnie, an energy specialist with Greenpeace Ukraine. "These shipments can be stopped." He said Congress or local authorities in the U.S. should step in.

Democrats are moving on several fronts. A group of lawmakers led by a handful of Democratic senators warned banks and port authorities earlier this week that they could face congressional investigations and other legal action if they handle the cargoes. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sent letters to Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited and PetroVietnam demanding they recall tankers. He argues Treasury's General License No. 135 cannot override the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, called the deal "corrupt and illegal." She said she is looking at how to prevent the diesel from being unloaded in her state if an attempt is made.

The administration has a defender among sanctions lawyers. Jeremy Paner, a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed and a former Treasury sanctions official, said the concern that Trump violated the 2022 law is "actually not founded in law." In his view the president "certainly has the authority in this case to provide the authorization."

Criticism has not been confined to one party. The Associated Press reported that the agreement was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for violating American laws and drawing the country closer to Russia.

Prices and politics

The administration's stated aim is cheaper fuel. Trump wrote on Truth Social that lower prices for "Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers" is his "Greatest Priority." Trump had argued the Russia deal would help lower diesel prices, but The Guardian reported that the price per gallon has risen from $6.28 when the agreement was announced to $6.33, according to the American Automobile Association. NBC News reported that average U.S. diesel has climbed from $3.55 a gallon at the start of the year to $6.32, a 78% rise, amid supply shocks tied to the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war, and that experts say Trump's actions will do little to ease prices, which have continued to trend higher.

The Kremlin says the policy is already working. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "fairly large quantities of diesel are being released" onto global markets. Novak claimed global diesel prices have dropped five to six percent. Those are Russian officials' claims. The Ukrainian outlet ua.news reported that U.S. diesel is already more expensive than it was before the deal.

Kyiv opposes the arrangement. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a "weak decision by strong partners."

What comes next

The immediate test is New York. Agioi Fanendes is due Nov. 7 or Nov. 10, and it is uncertain whether the vessels will be able to unload amid the political row over the legality of the shipments. The Treasury license, the 2022 statute and the Democratic threats against banks and port operators have not yet been tested against a real cargo.