A bipartisan group of 12 senators sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, requesting that he rescind a recent agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import diesel fuel. The group, consisting of six Republicans and six Democrats, characterized the deal as a "betrayal of the people of Ukraine" and a financial benefit to the Russian government during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The senators urged the president to withdraw from the agreement and rescind a Treasury Department move to waive sanctions that allows Russian diesel imports into the global market.
The deal follows an announcement by President Trump on Friday, October 9, 2026, stating that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global markets. The president cited the need to lower energy costs amid a seven-month war with Iran, which contributed to average diesel prices reaching a record $6.53 per gallon in September. Following the announcement, the Treasury Department issued a general license to facilitate these imports, which the senators argue violates federal law.
In their letter, the senators acknowledged the need to address high energy costs but argued that the Russian deal would provide "limited to no relief to Americans" while funding the Russian military. The group included Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and Alan Armstrong, along with Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Jack Reed, Chris Coons, and Sheldon Whitehouse. Separately, Sen. Tillis stated on Sunday that there is a legitimate case for saying the president is not following the law, which senators noted requires economic pressure on Russia to end the conflict.
The challenge to the deal also highlights a legal conflict over executive versus legislative power regarding foreign sanctions. Senators claim the administration bypassed a statute that prohibits Russian energy imports or requires economic pressure. If the Treasury Department's general license remains in effect, Russian diesel could continue to enter the market through April 2027. This sets a precedent for how the executive branch might use general licenses to navigate statutory bans during periods of high inflation or global energy instability.
Currently, the White House has not indicated plans to rescind the agreement, referring instead to President Trump's social media posts describing an "energy ceasefire" and his comments that the fuel is for the "world market" to address high prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that easing sanctions without a de-escalation agreement signals weakness. The next steps depend on whether the administration responds to the congressional demand or if lawmakers pursue further legislative action to enforce the import ban. No specific court dates or votes were reported.