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Senators Demand Trump Revoke Russia Diesel Deal

8:13 AM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: A bipartisan group of senators urged President Trump to rescind a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel on global markets, calling it a 'betrayal' of Ukraine.

A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to rescind a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel on global markets, arguing it undermines American security and betrays Ukraine.

The senators, in a letter to Trump, stressed that the deal, announced on October 9, grants Russia permission to sell more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes thereafter.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, sanctions commissioner to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, noted that the deal's first tranche covers about 15 hours of American diesel demand, with domestic output at 4.9 million tonnes per week.

The senators argued that the deal could help Putin finance his war against Ukraine and advance Russia's security cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea.

They also pointed out that the deal was made without consulting Congress and did not meet statutory requirements.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, among others, emphasized that the deal should be rescinded and that Trump should execute the authorities provided under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

The senators maintained that the deal must not be allowed to damage American security interests or undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, security, and democratic values.

Trump defended the deal, stating that it would lower diesel prices for Americans and the world, and that the barrels Russia would sell were ones it would have sold anyway.

However, critics argue that the deal could prolong the conflict and harm U.S. allies.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined the bipartisan group in asking Trump to cancel the agreement, which temporarily eases U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel, including imports into the United States.

AAA data show the statewide average diesel price was $6.56 a gallon Tuesday, up from $4.10 a year ago.

The senators' demand reflects a broader skepticism about the wisdom of engaging with Russia on economic terms while the conflict in Ukraine continues.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “Granting Moscow the ability to sell Russian diesel freely in global markets damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who continue to defend themselves from Putin’s murderous, illegal war,” the senators wrote.
• Trump announced the deal on October 9 after a telephone conversation with Putin, stating that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and global markets, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes thereafter, with further volumes possible depending on the condition of Russian refineries.
• "thereby enhance your negotiating position to bring a swift end to this ruinous conflict."
• "undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition and advance its security cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea."
• A bipartisan group of senators is urging Donald Trump to scrap his recently announced diesel deal with Russia, warning it could help President Vladimir Putin finance his war against Ukraine and calling the agreement "a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies."
• "Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST! Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority. This is a very big and important announcement. Additionally, it must be understood, that Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon!"
• "Putin is a tyrant. Withdraw from this agreement, rescind General License No. 135, and execute the authorities provided under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Maintain our legacy – and the duty America holds – as leader of the free world," they urged.
• "only provides Putin with more fuel to finance his war machine and enables Russia to continue its brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilians."
• They wrote, "This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded," adding the plan "will not achieve just ends, nor will it benefit Americans."

What's still developing

• The US Treasury subsequently issued General License No. 135, authorising certain transactions involving Russian diesel until April 7, 2027.
• "That's a diesel deal. Not for us. That's being released into the world. That's not being released to us. That's a diesel deal that's going to be released into the world for the world market, because the world market suffered with high prices."
• Earlier, RBC-Ukraine explained in detail the threat posed by the US-Russia diesel deal.
• The barrels Trump is getting are barrels Russia would have sold anyway True, diesel demand is notoriously inelastic, since lorries and combine harvesters cannot simply stay at home when the price displeases their owners, so even modest changes in supply can move the market.
• The barrels Trump is getting are therefore barrels Russia would have sold anyway, to Turkey, Brazil or West Africa, as its harvest demand fades and the Ukrainian strikes become less frequent.
• Twelve senators asked Trump to call off the diesel arrangement that permits Russia to place 4.8 million metric tons - nearly 36 million barrels - on the global market through mid-April.
• "I made the right choice for the American People - ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST!"
• The proposed waiver of U.S. energy sanctions on Russia would permit the purchase of several hundred thousand tons of the fuel from that country, beginning “immediately,” the president said in an Oct. 9 social media post stating his aim is to ease high energy prices for Americans.
• “Once again, he’s playing Trump for a fool & hoping to weaponize a freezing, starving, bloody winter against Ukraine,” he wrote on X, as Russia continued striking Ukraine’s power grid and civilian infrastructure nationwide.
• The deal was announced while the Ukrainian delegation was in Miami, hoping to reach a breakthrough in ending Russia’s war with senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Steve Kushner.
• They wrote that the agreement “will also endanger servicemembers operating overseas in support of Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S. military campaign against Iran that began in late February.

Sources

• Brussels Signallink
• CBS Newslink
• Fox Newslink
• NPRlink
• RBC-Ukrainelink
• The Spectatorlink
• Briefslink
• Rollcalllink
• Kyivpostlink
• Alaskasnewssourcelink
• WarpBeat — background on Senators Demand Reversal of Trump's Russian Diesel Deal link
• WarpBeat — background on Senators Call for Reversal of Trump's Russian Diesel Deal link
• Associated Press — video link