Novak: Tankers Carry 500,000 Tonnes of Diesel

Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Friday that three tankers are transporting 500,000 metric tonnes of diesel to North America. He stated that the first three vessels are already moving toward the Atlantic coast with support from the Russian Direct Investment Fund. This shipment represents the initial phase of an agreement announced this month by US president Donald Trump.

Under the deal, Russia supplies diesel to global markets to reduce fuel prices, and the US temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian fuel. Reuters identified one of the vessels as the Agioi Fanendes, a Malta-flagged medium-sized tanker carrying ultra-low sulphur diesel. The ship is scheduled to arrive in the United States on 7 November.

The fuel delivery coincides with a diplomatic shift in the war. 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. Both sides will halt military operations there starting 27 October. The pause is intended to allow aid delivery and prepare for civilian evacuation.

Oleshky faces a severe humanitarian crisis. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city, where shortages of food, water, and electricity have worsened. Residents report surviving on weeds, boiled grass, and small rations. Officials from both nations indicated that a broader ceasefire is close to being agreed upon.

US efforts to end the war include planned technical-level meetings in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. Ukrainian president Volodymyry Zelenskyy announced the schedule on Friday, while a US official noted that a follow-up meeting could occur in two weeks, possibly in Switzerland or Abu Dhabi. Zelenskyy expressed hope that the leaders will meet after these technical discussions.

This diplomatic push follows recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv, including US limits on the Starlink communication system used for Ukrainian defense. Trump said he would address any remaining access issues and might speak with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk if necessary. Meanwhile, EU leaders urged UK prime minister Andy Burnham to increase support for Ukraine at a Brussels summit, with Canada and Japan also facing calls for greater contributions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Friday that repairs to power infrastructure near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are complete. The work was done under a temporary ceasefire brokered by the IAEA. Repairs to the Ferosplavna-1 line, the plant's only remaining external power connection, reduce the risk of another loss of off-site electricity at Europe's largest nuclear station.