A bipartisan group of six senators is calling on President Donald Trump to reverse his announced deal to import 800,000 tons of diesel from Russia over the next two months, arguing it violates a 2022 law prohibiting Russian oil imports and provides a financial lifeline to Moscow amid its war in Ukraine. The senators, four Republicans and two Democrats, released a statement Sunday protesting the administration’s decision, which they say was made without consulting Congress or providing justification as required by statute. Trump announced the deal Friday, stating Russia would “immediately” supply over 300,000 tons of diesel, with additional shipments of 500,000 tons in November and 1,000,000 tons thereafter, in an effort to lower gas prices.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Curtis (R-UT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) signed the statement, which cites a law intended to prevent funding of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The senators argue that importing Russian diesel runs “directly counter to that law.” Tillis, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, further claimed the deal risks American lives due to Russia’s coordination with Iran. He pointed to a history of information sharing between the two countries, citing the case of Qassem Soleimani.
The deal has also drawn criticism for potentially contradicting a bill signed by the president intended to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham, which authorizes tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas. While Collins and Murkowski have frequently opposed Trump’s initiatives, and Tillis is retiring and has become more critical of the former president, the bipartisan nature of the opposition highlights the broad concerns surrounding the agreement.
Our reading is that a significant fracture is emerging within the Republican party, and even within Trump’s usual base of support, regarding his foreign policy decisions. The bipartisan condemnation of the Russian diesel deal, despite some senators’ prior opposition to Trump, suggests a broad consensus that this action is strategically unsound and potentially illegal. The senators’ emphasis on statutory requirements indicates they believe the administration has overstepped its authority, while the reference to the Lindsey Graham bill highlights a perceived contradiction in the administration’s policies.
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