The announcement came after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported diesel prices at $6.31 per gallon in September 2026—up 70% from the $3.70 level a year earlier.
Russia’s refineries, once the world’s third‑largest, now churn out only 3.8 million barrels per day, a 30% drop from 2025, after Ukrainian drone strikes hit facilities every three days on average.
Critics in Washington accuse the move of hypocrisy, yet the Treasury said the purchase is a temporary measure to stabilize the domestic market while Russia seeks new export routes.
The deal will cover up to 1.2 million barrels monthly, with the first shipment slated for October 1, and the administration is pushing for a congressional waiver to bypass existing sanctions.
In Dallas, trucker Raj Patel says he barely made ends meet after diesel surged, and he hopes the influx will lower prices for haulers across the Midwest.