Bipartisan group of US senators urges Trump to reverse Russian diesel deal
A bipartisan group of 12 US senators has urged President Donald Trump to reverse his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing Russian diesel exports, warning that the deal would help finance Moscow's war against Ukraine while doing little to lower American fuel prices.
In an October 13 letter, six Republican and six Democratic senators called on Trump to withdraw the Treasury Department's General License No. 135, which eased sanctions on Russian diesel exports following his October 9 agreement with Putin.
"This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded," the senators wrote.
The Republican signatories include Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Kelly Armstrong, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, and John Cornyn. The Democratic signatories include Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jack Reed, and Chris Coons.
The senators acknowledged the urgent need to lower energy prices for American families amid disruptions caused by the war with Iran. However, they argued that allowing Russian diesel back onto global markets would have a negligible effect on US fuel prices while providing the Kremlin with additional revenue to finance its war.
They also warned that the arrangement could strengthen Russia's cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea and endanger US service members participating in Operation Epic Fury.
The letter pointed to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Congress passed with bipartisan support and Trump signed into law last month.
The senators urged Trump to use the authorities provided by the legislation to maintain economic pressure on Moscow rather than ease restrictions.
Trump announced the diesel agreement with Putin on October 9, presenting it as a measure to address rising fuel prices. Ukraine criticized the decision, arguing that additional Russian energy revenue would help fund further attacks.
The dispute comes amid tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The Financial Times previously reported that the Trump administration had threatened to restrict intelligence sharing and weapons purchases unless Ukraine halted those strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy subsequently confirmed to NPR that Ukrainian military commanders had received such a warning.
The senators' letter does not itself reverse the sanctions relief. Any withdrawal of the license would require action by the Trump administration.