Trump Russia oil deal: US eases diesel sanctions while India's Russian crude falls

By Prakhar Shahi

Published · Updated

Bar chart: India's Russian crude imports, 2.1m barrels a day in Aug 2026 and 1.9m preliminary in Sep

Washington tariffed India over Russian oil in 2025, and kept the power to tariff buyers at up to 100%. Now it has eased Russian diesel to cool fuel prices, and Congress Republicans want to block it. What it means for India.

Original report

Data as of 11 October 2026, 23:00 IST

On 9 October 2026, the Trump administration eased US sanctions so Russia can sell diesel on world markets, NBC News and National Herald reported. The Trump Russia oil deal leaves India in an odd spot: the same Washington that tariffed India in 2025 for buying Russian oil is now buying time with Russian fuel itself.

The easing comes through a temporary US Treasury licence for Russian diesel sales, valid to 7 April 2027, NBC News reported. It does not touch crude. And it leaves intact US power to tariff buyers of Russian energy at up to 100%, National Herald reported. See how every outlet covered it

Washington eased Russian diesel to cool fuel prices

Russia promised 300,000 tonnes of diesel in October, 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes after that, NBC News and RFE/RL reported. Russia also lifted its own diesel export ban.

The trigger is prices. Brent crude stood at $104 a barrel on 9 October, and US diesel prices are up about 110% since January 2026, NBC News reported. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky objected, saying the move "plays into Russia's hands", according to NBC News.

That is the relief. The penalty side of US policy has not moved.

India was tariffed once for Russian oil

India paid an extra 25% US tariff over Russian oil in 2025, taking its total to 50%, TMV reported. Trump removed it in February 2026, citing India's pledge to halt purchases; imports then rose again, TMV reported. We found this tariff history in one source only.

A September 2026 US sanctions law authorises tariffs of up to 100% on major Russian oil buyers, with national-interest waivers, TMV and Business Today reported. The two describe its status differently: Business Today said on 23 September it awaited the president's signature; TMV calls it an Act.

India's stated line, as reported by TMV: "Energy decisions are driven by national interests and the need for affordable supplies."

India's Russian crude is already falling

India imported 2.1 million barrels a day of Russian crude in August 2026, down 16.5%, Business Today reported on 23 September, citing trade data. A preliminary September figure was 1.9 million barrels a day. Russia is still India's top supplier.

To put that in proportion: India's total crude imports in August were 4.44 million barrels a day, Business Today reported. So Russia supplied about 47% of it (2.1 divided by 4.44). The September figure, if confirmed, would be a further fall of about 10%.

That is why a second fight in Washington matters for Indian refiners.

Congress Republicans want to block the deal

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rep. Don Bacon, both Republicans, introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act on 10 October to block Russian oil purchases, RFE/RL reported. "We will be introducing bipartisan legislation to block any and all purchases of Russian oil," Fitzpatrick said.

They plan a discharge petition, which needs 218 signatures, to force a House vote without leadership backing, RFE/RL reported. No Democratic sponsor has been identified yet.

Then, on 11 October, Trump claimed an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine but gave no details, Greater Kashmir reported. Zelensky was said to be unaware of it.

How the coverage split

National Herald led on the contradiction: easing for Russian diesel while threatening India over Russian oil. NBC News framed it as a fight against a diesel price spike. RFE/RL led on House Republicans moving to block the deal. Business Today, earlier, focused on India's falling Russian crude.

What we don't know yet

Questions people are asking

Will India face US tariffs again over Russian oil?

US authority to tariff buyers of Russian energy at up to 100% remains, National Herald reported. No tariff decision has been announced.

How much Russian oil does India buy?

2.1 million barrels a day in August 2026 and about 1.9 million in September (preliminary), Business Today reported on 23 September.

Was India tariffed before for Russian oil?

Yes. An extra 25% in 2025 took India's total US tariff to 50%; it was removed in February 2026, TMV reported.

What did Trump ease?

A temporary licence allowing Russian diesel sales, valid until 7 April 2027, NBC News reported.

What happens next

The EU was due to announce major sanctions on 12 October, RFE/RL reported. If the discharge petition succeeds, a House vote could come within several weeks, and the Senate would also need to approve it. The diesel licence itself expires on 7 April 2027.

Read next: India's US-Russia balancing act in numbers: oil, tariffs, Pakistan, NGOs and China

How we did this We compared how five outlets reported the diesel easing and India's exposure between 23 September and 11 October 2026: NBC News, National Herald, RFE/RL, TMV and Business Today, plus Greater Kashmir on the ceasefire claim. We set the US moves against Business Today's import figures and did the share arithmetic ourselves. The hero image to upload is our own chart of India's Russian crude imports.

This story was produced with AI assistance and reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication.

Covered by 67 outlets across the spectrum: 24% left, 39% center, 33% right.

Who is covering this story

Sources

What an outlet bias classification means

More original reports

Related stories