Key facts
- Lawmakers warned banks and port authorities against facilitating Russian diesel imports.
- The imports could violate federal law and expose companies to civil and criminal liability.
- The deal could provide Moscow with revenue to finance its war against Ukraine.
- US Treasury issued a six-month exemption from certain sanctions restrictions.
- The lawmakers cited the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022 and CAATSA Section 216.
- Companies were asked to preserve records related to Russian diesel transactions.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has warned American banks, port authorities, and fuel-industry groups against facilitating imports of Russian diesel, citing potential violations of federal law and national security concerns. The intervention comes after President Donald Trump announced an arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to supply hundreds of thousands of metric tons of diesel to the United States, with additional shipments planned. The US Treasury Department subsequently issued General License 135, granting a six-month exemption from certain sanctions restrictions. The lawmakers cited the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022 and Section 216 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, arguing the administration had not fulfilled legal requirements. Representative Jamie Raskin separately warned that companies importing Russian diesel could face civil and criminal penalties. The White House dismissed the lawmakers' initiative as politically motivated.