Trump announces Russia will release millions of tons of diesel to help with costs

President Donald Trump says Russia will put large volumes of diesel on the world market to bring down fuel costs. After a Friday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wrote on Truth Social that 300,000 tons would be freed immediately, 500,000 more in November and 1 million in December, with 3,000,000 tons to follow shortly afterward. Treasury announced a temporary suspension of sanctions covering Russian energy so the fuel can be sold abroad. The Kremlin confirmed the call and said Putin was confident the supplies would help the global economy. It added that the two leaders agreed to keep up direct contact, and that they discussed Ukraine and Iran, according to CBS News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the arrangement, calling the easing of sanctions a sign of weakness. He argued that Russia would answer with more violence and that the arrangement funds a war that should be ended.

The shift reverses a long-running squeeze on Russia's economy dating to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Diesel now averages $6.28 a gallon, according to AAA, compared with $3.68a year earlier, as the war with Iran has pushed costs up. The record of $6.53 came on Sept. 22.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →