First Russian diesel tanker leaves for US, expected in New York by November 7

Energy trade has now begun between Russia and the United States. The two countries have been at odds for years and have tried to put each other down. As world politics changes, direct and friendly trade now appears to be running between them.

On October 23, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the first tanker had begun its voyage towards the US. The Malta-flagged vessel Agioi Fanendes left Russia's Primorsk port on October 22 carrying diesel. The ship is loaded with about 40,000 metric tonnes of ultra low sulphur diesel and is expected to reach New York by November 7.

So far only one ship has sailed from Russia for the US, so it would not be right to draw any big conclusion from it immediately, particularly where Donald Trump is concerned. Going by his statements and stance so far, not only the American public but the whole world has come to believe that Trump cannot be trusted.

The question is why these two big powers, always set against each other, have come together now. The answer is that the war each of them started is weighing heavily on them. It is important to see how long this trade lasts, because a good deal of world politics rests on it.

The US had attacked Iran. As a result, oil prices in the US are rising because the Strait of Hormuz is closed. This could hurt Trump in the coming elections. For this reason Trump is scrambling and has started buying oil from Russia. Trump had initially announced a supply of 300,000 tonnes of diesel.

It was later said that 500,000 tonnes are planned for November and 1 million tonnes in the next phase. But experts say the oil on the first tanker is very small compared with the daily consumption of the US, so there is little scope for a big effect on prices. Ukraine, for its part, has expressed displeasure over this trade between Russia and the US.

The deal has again brought the US's double standard into view. Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, India was made to stop buying cheap oil from Russia. The world was told that if India bought oil, Russia would use that money to attack Ukraine. Having got India's cheap oil stopped, the US has now started buying oil from Russia itself.

People are now saying that the US holds that morality is whatever it says it is, and that it will not shy away from putting the whole world at stake for its own interest.