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What happened
President Donald Trump has announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply millions of tons of diesel fuel to global markets. The agreement includes the immediate supply of over 300,000 tons of diesel, with an additional 500,000 tons to be delivered in November and 1,000,000 tons thereafter. Trump expects a further 3 million tons to be supplied eventually.
The move has been met with bipartisan criticism from lawmakers, who argue that the deal undermines Congress's efforts to prevent American dollars from financing Putin's war against Ukraine. Seven senators, including Jeanne Shaheen and Susan Collins, have condemned the deal, stating that it runs counter to a law passed in 2022 banning Russian energy imports.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has announced plans to introduce a bipartisan bill to stop Trump from lifting sanctions on Russian oil, while Rep. Greg Amo has criticized the move, arguing that it amounts to profiting from Putin's aggression. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has also spoken out against the deal.
The Treasury Department has issued a general license authorizing the importation of Russian diesel fuel, despite the backlash from lawmakers. The deal is expected to lead to lower fuel prices, but critics argue that the cost will be too high, as the money paid to Putin will likely be used to fund his war efforts in Ukraine.
