US senators want Trump to reverse course on Russia diesel
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Republican senator Thom Tillis is among those who criticised the diesel deal, warning it could put American lives at risk.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - Republican and Democratic US senators called on President Donald Trump on Oct 11 to “reverse course” on his diesel supply deal with Russia, saying it runs counter to US law barring imports of energy until Russia ends its aggression against Ukraine.
“Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” the seven senators - four of Trump’s fellow Republicans and three Democrats - said in a statement.
They also said that the administration failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation of its decision, something also required by law.
“The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course,” the statement said.
It was only the latest bipartisan criticism of Trump’s deal, a shift from his party’s near-unanimous support for Trump’s foreign policy decision weeks before Nov 3 midterm elections that will determine whether his Republicans will retain their control of Congress.
It was issued by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Tillis had said earlier on Oct 11 that the diesel deal may be illegal and would put American lives at risk.
Trump said on Oct 9 that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets, and his administration temporarily lifted US sanctions on Russian fuel designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war on Ukraine.
“I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law,” Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate in January, told NBC’s Meet the Press.
Prices for diesel — used for agriculture, heating homes and trucking — are near record highs and could hurt Republicans in next month’s congressional elections.
Analysts have said that Trump’s agreement with Moscow was unlikely to lead to sustained lower fuel prices.
Administration defends pact
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Oct 11 that the Trump administration will follow through with the deal using existing legal authority, and the agreement was good for the American people and would bring prices down.
“We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have. So, you know, anyone in Congress who says whether it’s an old Bill or the current Lindsey Graham Bill (that) prohibits us from doing it is wrong,” Bessent told Fox & Friends.
Trump in September signed a sweeping Russia sanctions Bill into law, called the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” to honour the South Carolina Republican and longtime Russia hawk who died in July.
Some other Republicans had also criticised the diesel plan. Retiring Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said on X on Oct 9 that “propping up Putin’s war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities.”
Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice-president, called his decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil a “betrayal” of Graham’s legacy and urged the president to “rescind” it.
As Trump’s poll numbers have cratered, congressional Republicans have increasingly distanced themselves from the president, on matters ranging from the conflict in Iran to the trade war with Canada.
But the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, John Barrasso of Wyoming, defended the diesel pact, telling CBS’ Face the Nation that Trump is focused on bringing costs down.
“The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions,” Barrasso said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a call on Oct 11 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear that the diesel deal “is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada, and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe,” his office said in a statement.
In a social media post on Oct 11, Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to what he described as an “energy ceasefire” taking effect immediately, but did not elaborate.
Zelensky said he was still waiting to see details of that agreement.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well,” Zelensky said on the Telegram app.
There was no word from Moscow on the announcement, which followed days of US pressure on Ukraine to halt its attacks on Russian oil refineries. REUTERS