Key facts
- Seven bipartisan members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged President Donald Trump to reverse a deal allowing Russian diesel imports.
- Lawmakers argue the deal violates a 2022 law prohibiting Russian energy imports until Russia withdraws troops from Ukraine.
- The senators contend the agreement could provide billions of dollars in revenue to fund Russia's war against Ukraine.
- Critics claim the administration bypassed Congress and did not conduct a required consultation or review process for the deal.
- President Trump announced the deal on Oct. 9, stating it would alleviate a global diesel shortage.
Bipartisan members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 11 condemned President Donald Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russia by allowing Russian diesel exports, warning it could fund Moscow's war in Ukraine. The senators urged the White House to "immediately reverse course."
In a joint statement, the lawmakers argued that President Trump's deal directly contradicts a 2022 law that banned Russian energy imports until Russia ends its aggression against Ukraine. They stated that Congress explicitly prohibited these imports to prevent U.S. dollars from financing the war and that the president cannot unilaterally ignore this law. The senators also claimed the administration bypassed Congress and failed to conduct the required consultation and review processes.
President Trump announced the deal on Oct. 9, asserting it would alleviate a global diesel shortage. However, lawmakers like Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) argued that Congress had recently passed legislation to increase sanctions on Russia and that the president should utilize those authorities instead of allowing Russia to profit from diesel exports.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called the agreement with Russia a "stain on our nation's character" and directly contrary to Congress's intent. He warned American companies against taking "Putin's blood money." Other critics, including Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), questioned the deal's effectiveness in lowering prices and its alignment with U.S. policy toward Russia.
Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick vowed to introduce bipartisan legislation to block all purchases of Russian oil, expressing confidence it would pass overwhelmingly. Congressman Don Bacon (R-Neb.) agreed that buying Russian fuel was the wrong approach, emphasizing the need to use sanctions to pressure Russia's war machine rather than providing it with revenue.
Trump has framed the deal as a measure to lower fuel costs for Americans ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, amid voter concerns over rising living costs. However, public support for Ukraine remains strong, with a recent poll indicating a significant majority of Americans sympathize more with Ukraine than with Russia.