Donald Trump’s deal with Vladimir Putin promises to put millions of tonnes of Russian diesel back into global markets at a time when fuel shortages are squeezing businesses and consumers. But there are doubts if Russia can deliver enough fuel to make a meaningful difference when its own refineries are under attack and domestic shortages have forced it to restrict exports.
The deal has already moved US diesel markets, but analysts doubt it will bring sustained relief at the pump. Its significance may lie less in the prospect of cheaper fuel than in what it reveals about the fragility of global refining capacity and the value of even limited supplies during a crisis.
