Putin says Russia won’t supply diesel to global markets until sanctions are lifted
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will not supply its diesel to global energy markets until sanctions against Moscow are lifted.
Speaking at the Valdai Forum of international Russian experts in Moscow, Putin said that Ukraine had “partially achieved its objectives” with strikes on Russian oil refineries that he said had cost Russia 1% of its gross domestic product, but Russia was now responding in kind.
US President Donald Trump said last month that Ukrainian attacks on Russian production facilities were causing a global diesel shortage and pushing up prices, and urged Kyiv to halt them.
Putin said Russia has enough diesel, “but it won’t reach global markets because of the bans and sanctions in place against our oil and petroleum products”.
Russia this week extended a ban on diesel exports for fuel producers until the end of October, adding further strain to a global energy market already rattled by wars and supply shortages.
Diesel prices in the US have shot to record highs over $6.50 a gallon as the wars in Iran and Ukraine constrain deliveries of fuel, a political risk for Trump ahead of the US midterm elections.