US to buy 4.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia despite threatening India with 100% tariff
US President Donald Trump has announced large-scale diesel purchases from Russia, even as Washington has threatened countries buying Russian oil with 100% tariffs.
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Global equations appear to be shifting. After a period of conflict, who now plays what role has become a big question. US President Donald Trump has announced large-scale diesel purchases from Russia, and the declaration has caused a stir around the world.
Strikingly, the United States has on one hand threatened the top five countries in the world, including India. It has said that if these countries buy oil from Russia, the US will impose 100% tariffs on them. On the other hand, the US itself appears in a completely different role here. The US has also approved the "Sanctions on Russia and Iran Act, SRIA 2026".
The question now is what kind of double standard this is. On one hand it is stopping other countries from buying oil from Russia, and on the other it is doing the same thing itself. What exactly is going on in world politics?
Under an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US will buy a total of 4.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia. This is roughly equal to 36 million barrels. Of this, more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel will be supplied immediately. Another 500,000 tonnes will be sent next month, in November. After that, a further 1 million tonnes of diesel will be sent. According to Trump, if everything goes smoothly, Russia will be able to supply 3 million tonnes of diesel.
So why is the US taking this double stance? Midterm elections are due in the US in November 2026, and diesel prices have risen sharply. They have now reached a historic low of $6.28 per gallon. According to Pew Research, the economy is the most important issue for 84% of American voters at present.
Farmers, truck drivers and small businesses, that is, every American, are deeply worried about inflation. These people are an important part of Trump's vote bank. In such a situation, the Trump administration is, in a way, taking this step to secure its election victory.
It remains to be seen how much Trump benefits from this stance. How India and other countries read it and what stance they take will also be important.
