Kathrine Frich
Drivers are actually paying more than they were a few weeks ago.
When fuel prices climb, every trip to the grocery store or gas station starts to sting a little more.
High energy costs quickly ripple through the entire economy, leaving drivers desperate for any sign of relief.
Recently, a high-profile international agreement promised to ease the burden at the pump, though the numbers tell a very different story.
Prices keep climbing
As reported by United24 Media and The Wall Street Journal on October 28, a fuel pact announced by US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has not brought American diesel costs down.
Instead, drivers are actually paying more than they were a few weeks ago.
According to American Automobile Association figures shared by The Wall Street Journal, average US diesel prices hit $6.35 a gallon on October 28. Back on October 9, the day Trump first unveiled the arrangement, that national average stood lower at $6.28.
A drop in the ocean
White House officials pitched the pact as a smart way to bring fresh Russian supply into both American and global markets. Even so, energy analysts told The Wall Street Journal that they doubt the incoming shipments will be big enough to noticeably lower costs for everyday buyers.
Last week, one vessel loaded with over 300,000 barrels of Russian diesel sailed out of the port of Primorsk, according to the report. At first, the ship listed New York as its arrival point, but the crew later switched its status to “for orders,” a shipping term used when a cargo lacks a confirmed buyer or final port.
Market watchers cited by The Wall Street Journal also wonder if Moscow can even deliver the fuel it promised. Damaged Russian refineries and ongoing export caps make hitting those targets difficult, and the expected totals of just over 100,000 barrels a day this month and 125,000 in November look tiny compared to the 800,000 barrels a day Russia shipped in 2025.
Legal trouble ahead
Even if those tankers eventually reach American shores, the arrangement faces serious pushback in Washington, United24 Media noted. Representative Jamie Raskin has already raised legal objections to the shipments.
According to United24 Media, Raskin argued that a presidential sanctions waiver cannot legally bypass an existing ban on Russian energy passed by Congress. He warned that any US firm bringing in the fuel risks up to $1 million in fines and 20 years behind bars.
