Washington — A bipartisan group of senators called on President Trump Tuesday to abandon his diesel agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and reverse the temporary waiver of sanctions on Russia’s energy industry. They argued the decision “damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine.”
“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” the senators wrote.
Mr. Trump said last week that he had reached an agreement with Putin under which Russia would immediately release 300,000 tons of diesel, with millions of additional tons to follow in the coming months. Putin said Moscow had “confirmed its readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to the American and global markets.” The Treasury Department separately announced a temporary waiver of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to “allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market.”
The decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties as Americans face elevated gas and diesel prices amid the war with Iran. In their letter Tuesday, a dozen senators objected to the agreement, including six Republicans: Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and John Cornyn of Texas.
The Democratic signatories were Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and Chris Coons of Delaware.
The senators said Americans support ending the Russia-Ukraine war, but insisted that any negotiated peace “must be on just terms.” Such an agreement, they wrote, should protect “democratic values, the sovereignty and security of Ukraine, and their people’s right to choose their future.”
They argued that the agreement with Putin “will not achieve just ends, nor will it benefit Americans.”
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The lawmakers recognized the “urgent need” to reduce energy costs, but said opening global markets to Russian diesel would provide “limited to no relief to Americans” and have only a “negligible impact on fuel prices.” They warned that revenue flowing to the Kremlin would “undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition” and strengthen Russia’s security cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea.
Congress approved a package of sanctions against Russia last month, and Mr. Trump signed it into law. The senators said the measure gave the president “authorities to broker a just and fair peace,” but maintained that those powers “require you to apply economic pressure on Russia” to strengthen his negotiating position and help bring the conflict to a swift conclusion.
“For decades, America has stood as the bastion of freedom against tyranny, and American presidents have embodied our nation’s resistance to tyrants,” the senators wrote. They urged Mr. Trump to withdraw from the agreement, reverse the Treasury Department’s sanctions waiver and use the authorities granted under the Russia sanctions law. “Maintain our legacy — and the duty America holds — as leader of the free world.”
