US officials are considering a ban on diesel exports to curb record domestic fuel prices, as drone strikes on Russian refineries hit global supplies. Meanwhile, Spain announced an embargo on Russian LNG from 2027, and Kazakhstan prepared to auction 56 oil and gas blocks.
Global market
The US administration is evaluating a full or partial ban on diesel exports to mitigate record domestic fuel prices, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reported. At the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump stated that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries inflated global diesel prices. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon urged Washington not to penalize India under new sanctions legislation for importing Russian crude. In European trade, Spain announced a complete ban on Russian LNG imports starting January 1, 2027, despite active long-term contracts. On gas trade, Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to meet US officials in Washington on September 24 to discuss resuming $6 billion in annual LNG purchases, contingent on waiving a 15% Chinese tariff.
Russia & CIS
American investor Todd Boehly intends to acquire Lukoil’s international assets, according to the Financial Times. On retail fuel markets, Zabaykalsky Krai authorities reinstated a 15-liter petrol limit per vehicle across 143 filling stations due to delivery delays. In Moldova, parliament approved a 60-day state of emergency in energy, prompting former Moldovan President Igor Dodon to demand transparency regarding secret emergency resource contracts. In defense, Mikhail Filippov, head of drone developer Arkhangel, identified refineries and ports as primary buyers of interceptor UAVs. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan announced plans to auction 56 oil and gas subsoil blocks, and Rosatom expanded its engineering team at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant to 63 specialists.
Armenia
Moldova’s energy state of emergency and UN talks between Washington and Kyiv on halting energy strikes received close coverage across Armenian media, news.am reported. Regional fuel sales restrictions and European LNG import bans highlight persistent external market volatility. Nevertheless, retail prices for petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas in Armenia remain stable. Natural gas deliveries and operations at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant continue without disruption under long-term agreements within the EAEU, which shield domestic consumers from global price shocks recorded by international market price assessments.