U.S. Senator Demands Russian Diesel Tanker Turn Around as Legal Fight Escalates

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is demanding that a tanker reportedly carrying Russian diesel to the United States reverse course, warning its owner that delivering the cargo would violate federal law despite authorization from the Trump administration.

In an October 27 letter, Blumenthal called on Greek shipowner Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED) to recall the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, which reportedly loaded nearly 40,000 metric tons of diesel at Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22.

The tanker was signaling the Port of New York and New Jersey as its destination, with an expected arrival date of November 7, according to shipping data cited in the letter.

The demand marks a further escalation in the growing dispute over President Donald Trump’s agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume Russian diesel exports to the United States and global markets.

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