US expects Russian diesel to start flowing before midterms

WASHINGTON — Russian diesel is expected to reach the American market before the Nov.3 midterm election, sources told The Post — as fuel costs hit a record $6.53 per gallon last month.The fuel “should be here in the next two weeks if we get everything done,” one American source told The Post, noting Russia agreed to send “a pretty substantial” amount.Trump announced Friday that he was suspending US sanctions on Russian diesel exports — with Russian President Vladimir Putin also lifting a diesel export ban imposed last year.The sources did not specify the exact plans to ship Russian diesel to the US and Trump had previously framed the deal as easing global price pressure.“That’s not being released to us,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.

“That’s a diesel deal that’s going to be released into the world for the world market, because the world market suffered with high prices.”Trump reached the deal with Putin after growing frustrated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ambitious campaign to blow up far-away Russian oil refineries, damaging all major hubs and putting upward pressure on prices.The US repeatedly asked Zelensky not to hit Russian refineries, but Ukraine “ignored” the requests, prompting Trump to make the diesel deal.“When you hit refineries, that hurts American consumers, and that’s not acceptable,” a US source told The Post.

Zelensky fumed about the fuel arrangement with Russia — calling it a “weak” decision that would fund Russia’s ongoing invasion.Still, he belatedly agreed to the US president’s demand not to strike refineries.

Experts have estimated the diesel deal could generate $4 billion in new revenue for Moscow.Trump on Sunday announced a limited “energy cease-fire” between Russia and Ukraine.A US official said that Russia — which Zelensky accused of violating the pact by immediately striking natural gas facilities — only agreed not to hit Ukraine’s oil refineries and gas station...