Novak explained where Russia got extra fuel for the United States

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia would only export surplus fuel. He said this in an interview with IS “Vesti”.

“For us, the priority is to supply petroleum products to the domestic market. This is not discussed, and only the surplus will be supplied to export markets, Novak said.

According to him, given the release of refineries from repair, Russia has the opportunity not only to provide the domestic market, but also to supply to world markets, as before. The capacity of Russian refineries for diesel fuel is “twice higher than the needs of the domestic market,” the deputy prime minister said.

We consume approximately 3.5-4 million tons per month. 3.5 million additionally supplied to the world market. So now we have a surplus in the domestic market. And in order for our plants not to reduce processing volumes, since there is no place to store surpluses, we must supply volumes to the world market. And before the export ban in July of this year, we supplied to the world market. Now there is an opportunity in accordance with the agreements of the presidents to send, including to the United States, Novak added.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that “active work is underway” between the Ministry of Energy of Russia and the United States, as well as between Russian exporting companies and buyers of Russian diesel. According to him, the U.S. Department has identified companies that will be counterparties and buyers and are currently negotiating the commercial terms of contracts. As soon as they are signed, within 15-20 days, the fuel will enter the US market, he said. “If we talk about the world markets of other closer countries, then in a shorter time,” Novak said.

The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that the United States issued a license on the possibility of supplying diesel to the American market. “This means that freight, transportation, and insurance are not subject to sanctions, these transactions can be carried out,” he said.

On October 9, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the supply of Russian diesel to the American and world markets. According to Trump, the Russian side will immediately send 300,000 tons of diesel fuel, then another 500,000 tons during November and 1 million tons immediately thereafter. Taking into account the production capabilities of Russian refineries, another 3 million tons of fuel will be exported as soon as possible, the US president said.

Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to supply diesel to the US and world markets. The US Treasury issued a general license, allowing the export of Russian diesel until April 7, 2027, and the Russian government partially lifted the ban on the export of diesel and allowed to send 500,000 tons to the world market.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, explaining the diesel deal with Russia, said the fuel would have come to the world market anyway. "The only difference is how much of that the United States would get," Rubio said. He recalled that in the spring, the United States already introduced a 60-day exemption from sanctions against Russian oil because of the situation around the Strait of Hormuz.