Trump’s Russian Diesel Math Doesn’t Add Up

President Trump’s heavily touted agreement to purchase 300,000 tons of Russian diesel, violating federal sanctions to support Vladimir Putin’s war, will do nothing to change U.S. gas and diesel prices.  

Simple math reveals why this policy is purely theatrical. The announced purchase of 300,000 tons of diesel amounts to just over 2 million barrels. Because the American economy consumes roughly 4 million barrels of distillates daily, Trump's grand deal equals a mere 12 hours' worth of supply.

By undermining an embattled democracy in Ukraine and sacrificing U.S. global leadership for a fraction of a day’s fuel, the administration is paying a massive geopolitical cost for a drop in the bucket.

Trump and his team clearly never did the math; 300,000 tons simply sounded like a big number to an administration that chronically mistakes trivial policy moves for major achievements.