A Russian official said the United States and Russia are discussing cooperation on data centre infrastructure following a deal to supply diesel fuel. With sanctions on Russia continuing over the war in Ukraine, the possibility of expanded economic cooperation between the two countries is drawing attention.

Cleantechnica reported on Oct. 18, local time, that Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said at a Russia Energy Week event in Moscow on Oct. 16 that the two sides were discussing joint data centre projects.

He also cited building data centres using small nuclear power plants as a potential area of cooperation. Dmitriev said, "We expect to announce several major initiatives in the near future," and claimed talks on economic cooperation between the two countries were progressing.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement for supplies of Russian diesel fuel after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 9. The U.S. government, in line with that, temporarily eased some sanctions on transactions involving Russian diesel fuel.

Critics said the measure clashes with U.S. sanctions policies designed to prevent Russia from securing funds for the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also objected, saying it "provides economic benefits to Russia."

The data centre issue has also emerged as a major point of contention in U.S. politics. As AI industry expansion drives growth in large facilities, local opposition is increasing over electricity and water use and environmental pollution.

In New Jersey, the DataOne data centre in Vineland was fined about $1.07 million in September over the installation and operation of 62 natural gas generators without a permit.

Trump says data centres help investment, jobs and tax revenues, but debate continues in local communities over the environmental burden.

It has not been confirmed whether the U.S. government has officially agreed to cooperate with Russia on data centres. The scale of investment, project locations and timelines have not been disclosed, leaving it unclear whether any cooperation will materialise.