The US Treasury has asked Russia’s sovereign wealth fund to assist with payment issues related to a deal for Russian diesel between Presidents Trump and Putin, according to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Dmitriev stated that the Treasury requested the RDIF to facilitate payments and resolve tactical problems to ensure efficient transactions.
This recently announced deal involves supplying Russian diesel to decrease fuel prices, which is important for Trump ahead of the mid-term elections. However, the agreement faces criticism from Ukrainian President Zelenskiy as it requires removing some of the sanctions imposed by Trump on Russian oil.
Dmitriev noted the complexity caused by overlapping sanctions, mentioning efforts to find a way to lift them. He also highlighted that the diesel deal could inspire further economic cooperation. However, he warned that the upcoming Graham Act in the U.S. would effectively block investment cooperation due to sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
With information from Reuters
