Key facts
- Senator Richard Blumenthal warned a shipping company against delivering Russian diesel to the U.S.
- The tanker Agioi Fanendes is carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel.
- The shipment is reportedly the first under a deal announced by President Donald Trump on Oct. 9.
- Blumenthal cited the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act as a prohibition against the shipment.
- Representative Gregory Meeks introduced a bill to block Russian diesel imports.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has warned a shipping company that transporting Russian diesel to the United States risks violating sanctions law. The warning comes after reports that the Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes was heading to New York with 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel, reportedly the first delivery under a deal announced by President Donald Trump on October 9. Blumenthal urged the shipping company, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited, to recall the vessel, stating that such a transaction would be illegal under the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act. He argued that the President's directive does not supersede existing law. The deal has faced bipartisan backlash, with Representative Gregory Meeks introducing legislation to block Russian diesel imports. The Agioi Fanendes loaded its cargo in Russia on October 22 and is expected to arrive in the U.S. on November 7.