A bipartisan group of senators called on President Donald Trump to immediately reverse a deal to purchase diesel from Russia, citing violations of US law and lack of congressional consultation.
A bipartisan group of senators has called on President Donald Trump to "immediately reverse course" on a plan to purchase diesel fuel from Russia. The senators, comprising members of both the Republican and Democratic parties, argued that the deal violates US law and fails to consult Congress as required by statute.
President Trump announced the agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday following a phone call. According to the announcement, Russia will supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global market immediately, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter." The president stated that Russia would deliver an additional 3 million tons "within a short period of time" after that.
The senators' statement, released on Sunday, asserted that Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing the war in Ukraine. "Congress was clear: the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies," the senators wrote. They added that Trump's decision "runs directly counter to that law."
The group also noted that the administration failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation to justify the decision, which they stated is required by statute. The statement was signed by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah, along with Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Some reports also included Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon as a signatory, bringing the total to seven, though other reports listed only six.
Senator Thom Tillis, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," said there is a legitimate case that the president is not following the law if the administration proceeds with the purchase. "We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied," Tillis said.
In contrast, Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., defended the president's approach on CBS's "Face the Nation." "The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions," Barrasso said. He characterized the move as "another point of leverage for the president to use against Putin in an effort to get a long-term solution in that part of the world," while encouraging Trump to enforce sanctions laws passed by Congress last month.
The deal also drew criticism from Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, who stated on "Fox and Friends" that "it would be the biggest mistake of his administration to work with Russia. That is the modern Hitler of our generation." Texas Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, quoted Kilmeade's remarks on social media, writing: "Bravo."
President Trump touted the arrangement as a way to lower fuel prices "for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers." However, industry analysts have questioned the deal's effectiveness. Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, noted that the total amount of diesel appears to be less than what the U.S. uses in a day.
Nephew argued that Iran and Russia might benefit more than the U.S. from the deal. "The Iranians are probably very excited because it shows that there’s a lot of pressure still on the U.S. And the Russians are excited because it puts a big hole in the sanctions regime," he said.
Diesel prices have reached record highs in recent months, a trend attributed by some analysts to the U.S.-led war in Iran, which has limited oil exports from the region. President Trump has recently sought to blame record U.S. diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the conflict in Iran.
The dispute highlights a significant rift within the Republican party regarding foreign policy toward Russia and Ukraine. The senators' claim that the deal violates the 2022 ban on Russian energy imports raises potential legal and constitutional questions about executive authority versus congressional statute. Additionally, the skepticism from energy experts suggests the deal may not achieve its stated goal of lowering consumer fuel prices, potentially impacting political dynamics ahead of the November midterm elections.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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