President Donald Trump announced Friday, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that Russia will supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global market immediately, followed by another 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons “immediately thereafter,” and an additional 3 million tons “within a short period of time” — a deal aimed squarely at the sky-high fuel prices squeezing Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
“Anything that could help our farmers, our ranchers, I like.”
Trump defended the deal outside the White House on Monday. Asked about Republican criticism of the Russia agreement, he said the critics “can't really be serious.” He also insisted an energy ceasefire is in place between Russia and Ukraine. “They agreed,” Trump said. “Because I said, ‘You agree.’” Pressed on continued Russian attacks, he said there had been violations on both sides. According to the Associated Press, Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for America's high diesel costs and asserted that Zelenskyy should step aside — something Ukraine's leader has no intention of doing.
The pushback is bipartisan and it is formal. In a statement Sunday, Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah joined Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut to demand the administration “immediately reverse course,” writing that the United States “should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians.” The senators said the administration failed to consult Congress or submit any explanation to justify the move, as the statute requires. Tillis, on NBC's Meet the Press, said there is a legitimate case that the president is not following the law. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the Texas Democrat who sponsored the 2022 law banning Russian energy imports — it passed the House 414-17 and cleared the Senate without a single no vote — said Trump is “directly violating that law.” Even Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa, where $6-a-gallon diesel has become a campaign issue, said relieving a sanction on Russia makes her “a little bit nervous.” Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor put the critics' case plainly: “The harm to the Ukrainians is real.”
What is not in dispute is why prices are high: they have escalated largely because of disruptions from the U.S. war against Iran, and energy experts say the Russian volumes alone are unlikely to bring U.S. prices down much. The fight is also on a clock — the sweeping new Russia sanctions law named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, which Trump signed, takes effect Oct. 18 at the end of its 30-day review period, and the diesel deal now runs straight into it. For Trump, the calculation is the one he stated Monday: relief for farmers, ranchers and drivers comes first.
Never miss a story.
Join our Telegram channel and get every article link the second it’s published.
Join Telegram Channel