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Economy · Russia · USAPress ✓ 9 outlets · volumes only according to Trump

After a call with Putin, Trump announces Russian diesel deliveries for the US and the world market; Zelensky calls it an “investment in the war”

Washington is temporarily easing sanctions to make it possible. The Kremlin confirms the call and a readiness to deliver, but the large volumes come so far from Trump alone. Kyiv is outraged, and whether prices at the pump will fall is open.

After a phone call with Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump announced large volumes of diesel from Russia on Friday evening. On Truth Social he wrote that Russia would “immediately” bring more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the American and global markets, and that it would soon be three million tonnes. Tagesschau, Der Spiegel, Handelsblatt, Die Zeit, FAZ, Reuters, AP, the BBC and the Financial Times report in agreement. Because Russia is under sanctions, the US Treasury issued a temporary permit, according to Der Spiegel. The sanctions agency OFAC is responsible for this.

The Kremlin confirmed the call and gave its length: an hour and a half. The focus, it said, was the situation in Ukraine, along with large economic projects, including Russian fuel deliveries. Putin pledged that Russia is ready to supply oil and oil products to the US and the world market, the agency Tass reports. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia is lifting the restrictions on diesel exports immediately; additional volumes are possible as early as October, with more coming in November and December once the refineries are back at work after maintenance. Which volumes will flow when is open. The figures come so far from Trump.

The background is domestic politics. Diesel prices in the US have doubled since the start of the war with Iran in February, according to the BBC, and an election is due on November 3: in the midterm elections, Congress is up for a vote. Handelsblatt writes that Trump has long been under pressure over fuel prices; the FAZ says he is securing fuel for his core voters. At the same time, Washington is easing the pressure on Moscow that it had built up with sanctions. That is the real heart of the story.

The announcement caused outrage in Kyiv. President Zelensky called it an “investment in the war” that must end, not continue. Russia will repay concessions on diesel with “more terror,” he said, and gifts to Putin in the form of sanctions relief would not end the war. According to Axios, the Ukrainian government was surprised by the announcement; Zelensky told the outlet the deal was “not fair and not honest.” Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian refineries of late.

The Kremlin linked the call to other topics. Putin told Trump that Russia would consider when to resume peace talks; both sides, it said, are interested in the APEC summit in China in November. Trump also welcomed Russia’s role in resolving the Iran conflict, according to the Kremlin’s account, which the White House has not confirmed in the reports at hand. Trump confidant Witkoff called the Ukraine talks in the US “constructive.”

A clear picture of the oil market will come only when the futures markets reopen after the weekend; WTI was last at $91.63, up 0.15 percent. For Germany, the main open question is whether additional Russian diesel will relieve the world market or weaken the allies’ common line on sanctions. No statement from the federal government could be found in the reports reviewed up to early Saturday morning. Nor could a reaction from the EU Commission.

Open the story and DailyDrop’s take
By the numbers
300,000 tof diesel “immediately,” per Trump on Truth Social
3 million tto follow later, according to Trump
90 min.length of the call, according to the Kremlin
Markets · DaxSource ✓ market close · Press ✓ 5 outlets

Dax jumps back above 25,000 points at the end of the week, Telekom plunges on SpaceX plans, Wall Street closes higher

The Dax closed 1.13 percent higher on Friday at 25,087.27 points, returning above the 25,000 mark. Handelsblatt also reported a sharp fall in Deutsche Telekom shares; Reuters spoke of a drop of as much as 7 percent at times. The trigger is SpaceX: Elon Musk’s company is buying radio frequencies and wants to offer mobile service in the US. US mobile carriers lost heavily; the Financial Times puts the loss in value at $45 billion. Reuters describes an entire industry unsettled by the new competitor; for customers, it is open whether it will push prices down.

In New York, the S&P 500 gained 0.59 percent to 7,811.54 points, the Nasdaq 0.64 percent to 27,366.17, the Dow Jones 0.83 percent to 51,654.95. Handelsblatt speaks of a recovery in tech stocks after renewed fear over the valuations of AI firms. The yield on ten-year US bonds stood at 5.244 percent; Pimco manager Ivascyn considers six percent possible, according to the Financial Times. WTI closed at $91.63, Brent at $104.72, gold at $4,219.9 (+1.51 percent). Hurricane Isaias shut down almost three quarters of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Bloomberg. The airline Delta cut its profit forecast, according to Reuters and Bloomberg, because fuel costs it $6 billion more. Bloomberg describes an interest-rate shock spreading beneath the AI rally; European stock markets followed Wall Street higher (ANSA: Milan up 1.2 percent). Xetra trading rests on Saturday and resumes on Monday.

Open
Word of the day
Radio frequenciesTechnology

Ranges of the radio spectrum in which mobile networks, broadcasting and satellites transmit. The state allocates them; whoever holds them can run networks.

Domestic politics · Saxony-AnhaltPress ✓ 6 outlets · consequences for the coalition open

After Magdeburg, the Union looks for its line: CSU deputy leader Weber calls the firewall a “huge burden,” Merz condemns Schröder’s visit to Putin as “immoral”

Four days after AfD politician Tobias Rausch was elected state parliament speaker in Saxony-Anhalt, the Union is looking for its line. CSU deputy leader Weber called the firewall, the line drawn against the far right, a “huge burden” for the Union, according to Die Zeit. The FAZ live blog reports on questions about how the CDU lawmakers voted; Die Zeit writes that nobody wants to have been the one. The Bundestag held a topical debate, and the Tagesschau speaks of a quarrel. Der Spiegel lists “the chancellor’s three biggest problems.” A resignation or an end to the coalition cannot be found in the reports. In Halle, a human chain prevented AfD politician Tillschneider from taking part in the commemoration of the synagogue attack seven years ago.

At the same time, former chancellor Gerhard Schröder drew sharp criticism. He had visited Putin in Moscow for his birthday. Chancellor Merz was “deeply outraged,” according to Reuters, and called the visit “immoral,” according to Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel. The Tagesschau reports criticism across the parties; one Social Democrat defended Schröder, and Der Spiegel asks what more he would have to do for the SPD to expel him. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the SPD and the Left Party voted for coalition negotiations with the Greens; in Berlin, exploratory talks among the Left Party, SPD and Greens are under way.

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Foreign policy · International lawPress ✓ 7 outlets · scope of the sanctions not documented

Nobel Peace Prize for Navi Pillay; hours later the US imposes sanctions on the International Criminal Court, eight foreign ministers object

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize goes to the South African jurist Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former judge at the International Criminal Court. According to Reuters and AP, the committee honors her commitment to international justice. A few hours later, the US imposed far-reaching sanctions on the court (Reuters, AP, Tagesschau, Der Spiegel). What exactly they cover is not documented in the reports at hand. The court’s prosecution office condemned the move and announced that its work would go on.

The foreign ministers of eight countries, including Germany, reject the sanctions (Der Spiegel). According to Der Spiegel and Tagesschau, Pillay was shaken but firmly believes in the court; the Nuremberg trials inspired her. Israel’s foreign ministry sharply condemned the award. Pillay had led a UN commission of inquiry that accuses Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip. She joked that she would share the prize with Trump if she were applauded more.

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Economy · Car industryPress ✓ 5 outlets · Mercedes report only in Der Spiegel

EU and China want to halve hybrid car exports, details remain open, at Mercedes the dispute over working hours sharpens

The EU and China have agreed, according to the EU, to halve Chinese exports of hybrid cars to Europe (Reuters, NZZ, Der Spiegel, Handelsblatt, NOS). It was announced by the EU trade commissioner in China. Reuters writes of a trade understanding; talks on the dispute over electric cars continue. Der Spiegel stresses that the agreement leaves many questions open; the NZZ calls it a “stage victory.” Over what period and from what baseline volume the halving is meant is not documented in the reports at hand. At the Paris motor show, so many Chinese manufacturers as never before pushed into the market, according to Reuters.

The German industry is under pressure. Der Spiegel reports that Mercedes is in its deepest crisis in decades; the board is threatening plant closures and wants to abolish the 35-hour week. The power struggle with the union, it says, has consequences for the whole industry. So far this is confirmed only by this one source. For buyers, nothing changes at first: the halving concerns volume, not prices at the dealership.

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In brief
  • Dortmund and Bremen draw 2-2, Füllkrug equalizes in stoppage timeDie Zeit · Der Spiegel · FAZ
  • DFB women beat Australia 4-2 in Karlsruhe, Kössler scores twiceDie Zeit · FAZ · Der Spiegel
  • Klaus Bresser, former editor-in-chief of ZDF, has died aged 90Die Zeit · FAZ · Der Spiegel
  • L’Osteria co-founder Klaus Rader dies in a rally accident on MallorcaDie Zeit · Der Spiegel · Handelsblatt
  • Insa: AfD reaches 40 percent in Brandenburg, the SPD 20, the CDU is in single digitsDie Zeit · BZ Berlin
  • Kaufland again recalls Aptamil and Milumil baby foodDie Zeit
  • US consumer sentiment worsens further in OctoberReuters · Bloomberg
  • The Festival of Lights begins in BerlinDie Zeit
Seven minutes every morning, one front page

Unverified — what we could not confirm

“Russia will soon deliver three million tonnes of diesel.” The figure comes from Trump’s post on Truth Social. The Kremlin confirms the call and a readiness to deliver but names no volumes in the reports at hand.
“The quake in Panama had a magnitude of 8.” Handelsblatt and ANSA initially reported 8.0. The USGS (Reuters, Guardian) says 7.6, the BBC and NBC 7.7.
“Merz will not survive the next few weeks.” Der Spiegel asks how the chancellor will get through them. A resignation or a break-up of the coalition cannot be found in the reports at hand.

Influencer watch

  • Donald Trump, US President Truth Social · 10/10Trump posted on Truth Social disparaging the Nobel Peace Prize winner and citing the eight wars he says he settled.
  • Mia Goth, actress Instagram · 10/10Mia Goth addressed a viral Instagram post about her ex amid the divorce filing from Shia LaBeouf.
  • Donald Trump, US President Truth Social · 10/9Trump said on Truth Social that Russia will supply diesel to the US; Zelensky called it an investment in war.
  • El Hotzo (Sebastian Hotz), satirist Süddeutsche Zeitung interview · 10/9Satirist El Hotzo spoke in an SZ interview about Chancellor Merz, satire and free speech.

Statements as posted, not fact-checked.

Glossary · dotted words — politics, economics, law and security terms explained in the context of the story. The list grows every day.
INSIDEAfter a call with Putin, Trump announces Russian diesel deliveries for the US and the world market; Zelensky calls it an “investment in the war”Economy · Russia · USADax jumps back above 25,000 points at the end of the week, Telekom plunges on SpaceX plans, Wall Street closes higherMarkets · DaxAfter Magdeburg, the Union looks for its line: CSU deputy leader Weber calls the firewall a “huge burden,” Merz condemns Schröder’s visit to Putin as “immoral”Domestic politics · Saxony-AnhaltNobel Peace Prize for Navi Pillay; hours later the US imposes sanctions on the International Criminal Court, eight foreign ministers objectForeign policy · International lawEU and China want to halve hybrid car exports, details remain open, at Mercedes the dispute over working hours sharpensEconomy · Car industry