Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Monday that the two governments were discussing diesel supplies and Russian companies were negotiating sales with buyers. Russia could reach 3 million to 3.5 million tons of diesel exports by year end, he said. Moscow partially lifted its export ban Saturday, permitting 500,000 tons to reach global markets, after the US Treasury authorized Russian diesel transactions through April 7, 2027.
The diplomatic effort remains unresolved. A White House official told Axios that Trump’s Sunday announcement of an immediate energy ceasefire referred to a potential “refinery for refinery” agreement that Russia had not accepted. Ukraine wants protection for its electricity system as well. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine refrained from attacking Russian energy facilities overnight, while Russia continued its attacks and hit six Ukrainian energy facilities Monday. The Kremlin said contacts on a possible energy ceasefire were continuing.