Diesel fuel supplies from Russia serve the interests of Americans. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this on Fox News.
According to him, Washington's actions on this matter serve the interests of Americans, including because they help lower diesel prices.
Bessent noted that sanctions against Russia do not hinder this agreement.
"Any member of Congress who claims that some previous law or the current Lindsey Graham* bill prohibits us from doing this is mistaken," he added.
On Friday, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a telephone conversation. After it, the US president announced a large-scale agreement in the energy sector: Moscow, depending on the state of its refineries, will supply up to three million tonnes of diesel fuel to the American and global markets. For this, the country's Finance Ministry issued an exemption from sanctions valid until April 7.
The day before, the Russian government partially lifted the ban on diesel exports. As Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, in October Moscow is ready to supply 300,000 tonnes, in November 500,000, and in December up to one million. In the future, the volume may grow to three million tonnes per month. At the same time, the domestic market will remain fully supplied with diesel, he stressed.
* Added in Russia to the list of terrorists and extremists.