Trump Secures Russian Diesel Deal, Clarifies U.S. Energy Policy Is Now Set by Whoever Called Him Most Recently
**WASHINGTON** — President Trump announced Thursday that the United States will import diesel from Russia. The deal came shortly after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, which aides described as "warm," "productive," and "about forty minutes before the policy existed."
The reversal ends a sanctions strategy that several administrations spent years building. Officials stressed that it was not a concession to Moscow. It was a concession to the calendar. The midterms are weeks away, and polling shows voters care far more about the price at the pump than about where the fuel came from.
"The American people deserve affordable diesel," said one senior official. "They also deserve not to think too hard about it."
Energy analysts pointed out a small geographic detail. The country directly north of the United States has the third-largest proven oil reserves on Earth, plus a pipeline network already pointed south. Asked why Washington chose a sanctioned petrostate over a neighbor it is currently taxing at the border, the White House said Canada "never calls."
In Ottawa, officials confirmed they had in fact called. Several times. They left voicemails. One was in French, which may have hurt their chances.
The Kremlin welcomed the agreement and said it looked forward to future cooperation on fuel, fertilizer, and "whatever comes up on the next call."
The White House did not say how long the deal will last. A spokesperson would only say it is "locked in through early November, at minimum," and then corrected himself to "at most."