Republican senators urge Trump to cancel the Putin diesel deal as unlawful
Four Republican and three Democratic members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee have urged President Donald Trump to “immediately reverse course” on his diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing it contravenes the law banning Russian energy imports. It is the most direct Republican criticism of a Trump foreign policy decision in his current term.
Four Republican and three Democratic senators from the US Foreign Relations Committee have urged President Trump to revoke his decision to supply diesel to Russia, arguing it is unlawful. The Senators argued that the deal violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports, which was put in place to prevent American dollars from financing Putin's war in Ukraine.
The Senators noted that the law requires consultation with Congress and a formal review process, yet the administration appears to have bypassed these steps. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat, stated that the law allows for an increase in sanctions and tariffs on Russia, rather than allowing Russia to export diesel and continue its war in Ukraine.
Senator John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican, defended the decision, stating that the President has to make tough choices. Trump announced on Friday that Russia would supply around 4.8 million tonnes of diesel, and the Treasury issued a license temporarily suspending sanctions on Russian diesel until April 2027. The decision comes amid criticism of Trump's handling of the economy, with diesel prices near record highs due to the war with Iran.
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