Russian Diesel Tankers Turned Away From US, But Ukraine Says Moscow Is Still Finding Buyers

WASHINGTON -- Several Russian diesel tankers initially bound for the United States have changed course after struggling to find American buyers willing to accept the controversial cargoes, amid mounting political and legal opposition to the Trump administration's efforts to facilitate Russian fuel imports.

The US Treasury announced a sanctions waiver on Russian diesel in early October amid growing concern in the United States over surging diesel prices. Shortly after this, Ukrainian authorities started monitoring eight tankers believed to be laden with Russian diesel and heading for US ports.

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But no Russian diesel shipment has arrived, following resistance from lawmakers, financial institutions, and port authorities. On November 11, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that "Congress is watching."

Speaking to RFE/RL on November 12, Ukraine's chief official for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, voiced satisfaction that the cargoes had not been delivered -- but also warned that the ships were still at sea and would be seeking other customers.

RFE/RL: None of the Russian diesel shipments has reached a US port. Is this a victory for Ukraine's sanctions campaign, or merely a temporary setback for Russia?

Vlasiuk: It is a good sign, but I would not call it a victory yet. Our monitoring shows that several tankers heading for the US changed course to the Mediterranean, while new ones loaded with diesel in the Baltic. The cargo has not disappeared. It is looking for another buyer. A real victory is when Russia earns less for every barrel and every ton.

RFE/RL: Does this episode demonstrate that sanctions pressure can still work, even when political leaders attempt to relax it?

Vlasiuk: Yes. Sanctions are not only government decisions. They are also banks, insurers, traders, and port operators who assess risk. When the rules are unclear, the market prefers not to take that risk with Russian cargo.

When the US sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, discounts on Russian crude widened within days. The market reacts immediately to serious measures, and it also reacts to signals that the pressure is easing. That is why consistency matters.

RFE/RL: Even if the diesel does not reach America, Russia can sell it elsewhere. Is Moscow actually losing money, or is it simply redirecting its exports?

Vlasiuk: Yes, it is. Every diverted cargo means longer voyages, higher freight costs, extra intermediaries, and a bigger discount. Each step takes a cut out of Russia's revenue. And the money paid to middlemen and shadow-fleet operators is money that does not go into missiles.

Sanctions rarely stop trade completely. They make it slower, more expensive, and less profitable, and over time that adds up.

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RFE/RL: Several years into the war, what have we learned about the effectiveness of Western sanctions? And where has the West failed to keep up with Russia's ability to adapt?

Vlasiuk: The main lesson is simple: Sanctions work where they are enforced. The numbers show it. Russia's oil and gas budget revenues fell by about a quarter in 2025. Around $300 billion of its central bank reserves remain immobilized. After the US sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, Russian crude was sold at discounts of over $20 a barrel.

At the same time, Russia adapts fast: it localizes production, finds new suppliers, and builds new evasion routes. And it is not only Russia. Iran, North Korea, and others learn from each other just as quickly. This is a challenge that needs a constant and coordinated response.

Western electronics are still found in Russian weapons: the Geran-4 (drone) alone has around 55 foreign components from seven countries. Where we fall short is enforcement: too few criminal cases against intermediaries, and too long a gap between announcing measures and implementing them.