Donald Trump’s decision to import Russian fuel to the US represents a remarkable about-face from the president.Just three weeks ago, Trump signed legislation to authorise fresh American sanctions and tariffs on nations that import Russian oil and gas.Now, Trump says, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel to the US and world markets in the coming months.The deal comes as Trump is still grappling with the political fallout of the Iran war and its impact on global energy prices, weeks before American voters head to the polls in the midterm elections.As the cost of fuel has skyrocketed in America, his standing with the public – stung by the higher prices at the pump and knock-on effects that led to across-the board inflation – has soured.

The toll the war is taking has been acutely felt by US agricultural states, which rely heavily on diesel to operate farming machinery and to transport their products to market.It is these states – places like Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Ohio – that have become unexpected political battlegrounds in the upcoming elections that will determine if Republicans maintain control of Congress.For months, the American president has been searching for ways to ease his party’s political pain.He recently pressured European allies to further tap their oil reserves. He deferred federal taxes on the fuel and authorised supplies designated for farm use to be used in interstate trucking.He has also promised that he would not renew attacks on Iran until after the midterms – an unusually frank acknowledgement of the political impact the ongoing conflict is having.His decision to strike a deal with Russia’s Putin is only the latest, most dramatic effort.

Trump’s Truth Social posts often provide incomplete information, of course. The details of exactly how Russia is supplying this fuel to the global market, and what they might get for in return – besides much-needed hard currency – is unclear.