US senators ask Trump to rescind 'disastrous' Russian diesel deal

A coalition of US lawmakers urged President Donald Trump to annul his agreement permitting Russian diesel sales, asserting it would extend the Ukraine conflict and jeopardize American military personnel stationed in the Middle East. Last week, Trump disclosed during a call that Russian President Vladimir Putin had consented to the diesel shipments, a move coinciding with mounting domestic pressure to reduce diesel prices triggered by supply shortages during the Iran war and Russian assaults on Ukrainian refineries prior to the November midterm elections.

A letter penned by 12 senators, among them former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, contended that permitting Moscow to freely trade diesel endangers American national security. The letter denounced the arrangement as an insult to Ukraine, whose citizens persist in defending themselves against Putin's unlawful warfare. It is a present to our adversary and a treachery to our allies, the letter asserted.

They argued Putin will utilize the earnings to support Iran's conflict against the US. Intelligence from the US, European officials, the UK government, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have accused Russia of aiding Iran. Reports from US media, referencing officials, have claimed Russia provided Tehran with intelligence on American military installations in the region.

The agreement will have little effect on fuel costs, yet the Kremlin will gain financially from the transaction, which will advance its strategy of attrition and strengthen its security ties with China, Iran, and North Korea. It will also imperil servicemen deployed overseas in support of Operation Epic Fury. On Monday, Trump conceded that Russia and China might be assisting Iran to a limited degree but insisted he does not believe this to be true.