Six Senators Urge Trump to Reverse Russian Diesel Deal, Citing US Law/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Six senators from both parties urged the Trump administration to abandon its Russian diesel purchase plan, arguing that it conflicts with federal law. The lawmakers said officials failed to consult Congress or provide a legally required explanation for the decision. Other Republicans defended Trump’s focus on energy costs, while experts questioned whether the agreement would meaningfully reduce prices.
Quick Look
- Bipartisan opposition: Four Republican and two Democratic senators called for an immediate reversal.
- Legal objections: The group cited a 2022 import ban and congressional requirements for consultation and explanation.
- Proposed shipments: Trump announced an initial delivery exceeding 300,000 tons, followed by several larger shipments.
- War funding concerns: Senators warned that buying Russian fuel would provide Moscow with revenue while attacks on Ukraine continue.
- Republican defense: Sen. John Barrasso said Trump was balancing energy costs and diplomatic leverage.
- Limited price relief: Energy specialists said the agreement was unlikely to substantially lower fuel prices.
Deep Look
Six Senators Demand Reversal of Russian Diesel Plan
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of six senators called Sunday for President Donald Trump’s administration to “immediately reverse course” on its plan to purchase diesel from Russia.
The lawmakers argued that the agreement could provide financial support to Moscow’s war against Ukraine and run counter to restrictions Congress enacted.
They also said the administration had neither consulted Congress nor submitted an explanation justifying the decision as required by statute.
“The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course,” they wrote.
Four Republicans Join Two Democrats in Opposing Agreement
The statement was signed by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah.
Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut also joined the appeal.
Their objections followed Trump’s Friday announcement that he had reached a diesel agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation.
Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons to American and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.”
He said another 3 million tons would arrive “within a short period of time.”
Tillis Questions Whether Purchase Plan Complies With Law
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Tillis said there was a legitimate basis for arguing that Trump would not be following the law if the administration proceeded with the purchases.
“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.
The diesel announcement came only weeks after Congress passed legislation directing Trump to impose substantial tariffs on leading importers of Russian oil or natural gas.
The law includes an exception for countries importing less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports that have taken significant steps to reduce those purchases.
The legislation was intended to restrict the energy revenue Russia uses to finance its war.
Senators Cite Congress’s 2022 Russian Energy Import Ban
The six senators also pointed to Congress’s explicit prohibition on Russian energy imports in 2022.
“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,” they wrote. “President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law.”
Their statement challenged the agreement on both legal and national security grounds, arguing that the United States should not become a source of financial relief for Putin.
Barrasso Defends Trump’s Energy Focus but Urges Sanctions Enforcement
Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republicanoffered a different assessment when asked on CBS’s “Face the Nation” whether the agreement would violate U.S. law.
He emphasized Trump’s effort to reduce energy costs.
“The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions,” Barrasso said.
However, Barrasso also encouraged Trump to enforce the sanctions legislation Congress passed last month.
“This is just 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,” he said.
Energy Experts Question Savings and Warn of Benefits to Russia
Energy specialists have said the agreement is unlikely to significantly reduce high fuel prices.
Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policysaid the total diesel volume appeared to be less than one day of U.S. consumption.
He argued that Iran and Russia could gain more from the arrangement than the United States.
“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,” Nephew said.
Trump has recently sought to blame record U.S. diesel prices on Ukraine. The U.S.-led war in Iranhowever, has driven up energy prices globally.
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