US President Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America)
US Senators question legality of Trump-Putin diesel deal
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- Seven US senators issued a joint statement questioning the legality of US President Trump's plan to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
- Lawmakers stated the move violates the 2022 congressional ban on Russian energy imports and noted a failure to consult Congress.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the agreement, claiming the administration will proceed using all available legal authorities.
A bipartisan group of seven US senators issued a joint statement on Sunday questioning the legality of US President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
The congressional pushback follows US President Trump's announcement on Friday regarding an agreement reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Under the deal, Moscow is permitted to release large quantities of diesel into global markets in exchange for the relief of certain sanctions, a move that drew sharp criticism from Ukraine, European allies, and US lawmakers.
The statement was signed by Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, and Ron Wyden, alongside Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, John Curtis, and Thom Tillis.
"Congress banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from funding Putin's brutal war against Ukraine," the senators said in the statement. "Congress was clear: the United States must not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threatening our NATO allies."
Immediate reversal
The bipartisan coalition asserted that President Trump's decision to allow Russian diesel imports into the United States directly conflicts with existing statutory law, adding that the administration failed to consult Congress or provide a justification for the policy shift as required by law.
Denouncing the agreement for providing "Putin a financial lifeline" while Russia continues to target Ukrainian civilians, the lawmakers called on the Trump administration to "immediately reverse" the decision.
In response, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the agreement during an interview on Fox News on Sunday, confirming the administration's intent to implement the arrangement.
"We will proceed with it using all legal authorities available to us," Bessent stated.
