Eight tankers carrying Russian diesel may be heading to US as New Jersey threatens penalties

Seven of the vessels have listed the United States as their destination, while an eighth, the Greek-flagged Athina M, is also suspected of heading there, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on November 4, citing Ukrainian government sources familiar with the monitoring.

The tankers loaded diesel at Russian ports in October, primarily at Primorsk on the Baltic Sea. Their estimated arrival dates range from November 7 to 18.

Four of the vessels - Leruo, Primorye, Manta and Feliks - are subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian sources.

Two U.S.-based organizations, the American Coalition for Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, said they were monitoring 13 vessels that could potentially deliver Russian diesel to American ports. They identified Taurus and Agioi Fanendes as two likely carriers.

The shipments follow an October 9 announcement by the U.S. Treasury Department authorizing certain transactions involving Russian diesel, after Trump said he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Russian fuel onto global markets to ease price pressures.

The decision has prompted legal and political objections in the United States.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill sent letters to 12 port and terminal operators on November 2, urging them to reject tankers carrying Russian diesel and warning that accepting the fuel could expose them to millions of dollars in penalties, The New York Times reported.

Sherrill argued that the imports would violate a 2022 federal law banning Russian energy products and said her administration was prepared to use “every available legal and regulatory tool” to prevent the fuel from being unloaded in New Jersey.

“You could be subject to millions of dollars in penalties long after Trump has left office,” she wrote.

The Treasury Department maintains that its temporary authorization complies with applicable law. The White House says increasing global diesel supplies is intended to lower costs for American farmers, truckers and families.

The dispute comes as U.S. diesel prices have surged amid the war with Iran. According to The New York Times, the national average reached $6.29 per gallon, nearly 70% higher than before the conflict began.

The final destinations of the Russian cargoes remain uncertain. The tanker Agioi Fanendes, previously expected to arrive in New York on November 7, changed its declared destination to “for orders,” indicating that its discharge port had not been confirmed, according to shipping data cited by The New York Times.

Ukraine has criticized the U.S.-Russia diesel arrangement as a concession to Moscow, while the European Union has said it will not ease pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.