Novak confirms Russian diesel tankers sail for US as Ukraine ceasefire holds

Three tankers loaded with Russian diesel have departed for North America, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Speaking on Friday, Novak stated that the vessels are part of an agreement to supply 500,000 metric tonnes of fuel to US and global markets in October. He noted that the Russian Direct Investment Fund is supporting the operation.

The arrangement was announced earlier this month by US President Donald Trump. Under the terms, Russia agreed to supply diesel to help lower fuel prices. In exchange, the US agreed to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian fuel. Reuters reported that the Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes, carrying ultra-low sulphur diesel, is expected to reach the United States on 7 November.

Simultaneously, the White House announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine under Russian occupation since February 2022. Military operations in the city will halt on 27 October to allow for aid delivery and civilian evacuation preparations. Approximately 2,000 residents remain in Oleshky, where severe shortages of food, water, and electricity have led to dire survival conditions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US have agreed to hold technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. A US official indicated that leaders might meet in a few weeks in either Abu Dhabi or Switzerland. Zelenskyy expressed hope that a meeting of top leaders would follow these technical sessions.

The diplomatic efforts follow recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv. Trump addressed issues with the Starlink communication system used by Ukraine for defense, stating he would resolve access problems if necessary. He mentioned potentially raising the matter with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In Brussels, EU leaders urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase contributions to Ukraine's defense ahead of the UK's upcoming budget.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Friday that repairs to power infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant were completed under a temporary ceasefire. The work strengthened the connection to the Ferosplavna-1 external power line, reducing the risk of another loss of off-site electricity at Europe's largest nuclear station.