Senators Slam Trump’s Diesel Deal With Russia in Rare Bipartisan Rebuke: Runs ‘Directly Counter’ to Law

0(Jae C. Hong/AP photo)A bipartisan group of senators has condemned Donald Trump's diesel fuel deal with Vladimir Putin as an illegal act that must be reversed.A bipartisan group of senators with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has condemned President Donald Trump’s diesel fuel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin as an illegal act that must be reversed.

Trump announced Friday that Putin agreed to bail out the U.S. diesel market as the Iran war continues to keep gas prices for Americans high.

In a statement Sunday, six senators on the Committee released a statement saying the administration “must immediately reverse course.”

“Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” the statement said, continuing:

Congress was clear: the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies.

President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law. The Administration has also failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation to justify its decision as required by statute.

The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course.

The senators releasing the statement included Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Curtis (R-UT).

Tillis hinted earlier Sunday on NBC News’s Meet The Press that the condemnation was coming.

“I believe that he may be [breaking the law],” Tillis said of Trump’s deal. “And I’m planning on, if we haven’t put it out yet, putting out a statement with Sen. Shaheen on this matter.”

“Look, this has deadly consequences,” Tillis continued. “Giving Vladimir Putin any sense that we’re gonna put our foot on the brakes versus put our foot on the accelerator to ending this war and ensuring peace in Europe, we’ve gotta go back, and I do believe there is a legitimate case for saying the president is not following the law.”

The statement did not say how the Senate would proceed if Trump insists on buying fuel from Russia.

Also Sunday, Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was a surprise to him. Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Russia struck a power plant in eastern Ukraine, according to ABC News.

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