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."