Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[Annetts key]

I think they mostly import from India, but yes Russia is struggling with diesel supply and even if they can obtain more diesel, at this stage they are far more likely to use it themselves than export it to the wider global market. This is just Trump desperation ahead of the mid-terms (although at least that suggests he's not confident he can steal them).

For the past three or more months, Russia has had an export ban on petrol and diesel. And as indicated above, has been desperate to import such fuels from whatever countries are willing to trade with them. Which is not many.

So that tells you how bad the situation is in Russia.

So this so called deal between Trump and Putin is all for show and propaganda. An absolute gift for Putin as it divides people and countries. Which Putin obviously thinks will help him.

Of course, even if Russia could export diesel to the U.S., by the time the relatively small amount (compared to the U.S. consumption rate) makes it there, the mid term elections will be either very close or underway. So it's unlikely the price at the pump will change very much if at all.

Which makes this move by Trump even more stupid, as those electors are far more likely to judge him by how they are affected rather than by what he says, many of the electors having already lost trust in him.