Russian diesel deal with US could offer Moscow a chance to mend business ties, Russian diplomat says

A deal ​that allowed the ​United States to ‌import Russian ​diesel could present an opportunity for the two countries to ‌gradually rebuild business ties, a Russian deputy foreign minister said on Monday. The US struck the deal in ‌October with the Kremlin to resume diesel exports ‌to international markets at a time when President Donald Trump was seeking to calm diesel prices ahead of ⁠the midterm ​elections on ⁠November 3, which his Republican Party lost.

How exactly the deal ⁠will work in practice remains unclear, however, after two ​US-bound tankers carrying Russian diesel and headed for ⁠the US Atlantic coast changed course, shipping data from Kpler ⁠and ​LSEG showed last week. The deputy foreign minister, Alexander Pankin, said in an interview ⁠with the TASS state news agency that the "diesel deal" could "serve ⁠as ⁠a foundation for the gradual restoration of business and other ties between our ‌countries."