"You know very well that problems for motorists and businesses remain. Unfortunately, there are also queues at gas stations," Putin said at a televised meeting on Sunday, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
Moscow is considering a series of measures to support its domestic fuel market after Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries in various parts of the country reduced fuel production.
Russia has imposed a temporary ban on gasoline exports until July 31. However, reports are still coming in about queues at gas stations and gasoline and diesel rationing in several regions.
Export ban is being considered
Putin rarely admits anything that could even hint at Ukrainian successes in the war. But he also confirmed at Sunday's meeting - with oil industry executives and government officials - that a complete ban on Russian diesel exports is one of the measures being discussed.
But Moscow is hesitant about halting diesel exports. When it was done in 2023, it only lasted two weeks, as large Russian producers that otherwise export could not redirect their volumes to domestic consumers and suddenly faced stockpiles.
Also the Iran War
In addition to Kyiv's increasingly bold attacks, which are being carried out deeper inside Russia, the Russian problems are also due to supply disruptions and rapidly changing global market conditions as a result of the Iran war.
It is now possible to make money from diesel exports, and historically around 40 percent of domestic Russian production has gone to foreign markets.
An export ban would strangle that revenue and could also further tighten the already strained global fuel markets.
The possible negative consequences for Russia of this are something the Kremlin is first carefully analyzing.
