President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia would ship 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the United States immediately, followed by larger shipments later this year—a move that has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism.
Fuel costs spike. The Treasury Department, after a brief pause, will lift sanctions on Russian diesel until April 7 to facilitate the shipments, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Fox News interview, stressing the arrangement stays within legal channels.
Seven senators—Republicans Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, John Curtis and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden—issued a joint statement condemning the deal, calling it a financial lifeline for Moscow amid its war in Ukraine. "Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from funding Putin's brutal war," the senators wrote.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the figures to TASS, noting that after the initial 300,000‑tonne shipment, Russia would supply 500,000 tonnes in November and another million tonnes thereafter, with a potential three‑million‑tonne monthly capacity if refineries recover.
President Volodymyr Zelensky branded the deal a gift to Putin, warning that U.S. dollars could inadvertently finance Ukraine’s defenders. The statement echoed growing concerns among U.S. allies that the shipment may undermine the global sanctions regime.
The timing could not be more politically perilous. With the midterm elections looming, voters are scrutinizing Trump’s economic record as the average U.S. diesel price sits at $6.28 per gallon, down from a record $6.53 last month. Polls show a majority disapprove of his handling of both the economy and the Iran‑related fuel surge.
Trump now faces pressure to reverse the decision before the November polls. Senators have called for a Treasury reversal by early October, and a Congressional vote on the matter is expected in the coming weeks.