NewsWar in Ukraine

Seven US senators make bipartisan call for Trump to abandon diesel deal with Russia

Novaya Gazeta Europe
The US Capitol building in Washington, DC, USA, 24 June 2026. Photo: EPA / GRAEME SLOAN

Seven US senators, including four Republicans, have called on US President Donald Trump to scrap a deal he announced on Saturday for the US to import Russian diesel fuel in an effort to lower domestic gas prices ahead of next month’s crucial midterm elections, Reuters reported on Monday.

The joint call was made by Republican Senators Susan Collins of ⁠Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden ​of Oregon.

Pointing out that the administration’s decision would be a blatant violation of US law, which prohibits the import of Russian fossil fuels until Moscow ends its invasion of Ukraine, the senators also argued that buying Russian fuel would mean additional revenue for the cash-strapped Kremlin, which in turn would result in additional funding for Russia’s military.

Dismissing the appeal, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted that the White House had sufficient legal authority to proceed with the move, and predicted that the deal with Russia would help to lower diesel prices in the US, which have approached record highs since Trump began his war with Iran.

According to the senators, the White House made no attempt to coordinate or discuss the deal with Congress before announcing it, and did not provide the justification required by law to override US law.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his scepticism about the deal, and wondered aloud whether it would even serve Trump’s domestic political needs. “I don’t believe the volume of diesel Russia will export will affect the price,” he wrote, adding “What kind of impact can that have?”

“Why isn’t America making a “diesel deal” with Ukraine? Let Ukraine propose a “diesel deal.” We do have influence over whether these ships can sail or not, whether these refineries can operate or not,” Zelensky wrote on X, adding: “If that’s the case, then let’s do it.”