Putin Revises Schedule for First Russian Diesel Shipment

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first tanker carrying diesel to the United States under an arrangement with President Donald Trump would sail two to three days after Wednesday, revising an earlier schedule for a Thursday departure. The shipment has not been confirmed as departed or delivered. Putin made the revised estimate on Oct. 21 during a meeting in St. Petersburg with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. He said the first cargo would contain 40,000 metric tons of diesel and that several tankers were being prepared to follow. Putin also said financing for the shipments still needed to be worked out. Earlier Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the first tanker was scheduled to leave Thursday, Oct. 22, and that supply contracts were nearing completion. The two announced timetables differ: Putin’s estimate points to departure around Oct. 23 or 24. Neither official identified the departure port, and the statements do not establish when the cargo might reach a U.S. buyer. The 40,000-metric-ton cargo is about 13% of the 300,000 metric tons Trump initially said Russia would supply. Trump announced the arrangement on Oct. 9 and described larger shipments...