President Trump’s diesel deal with Vladimir Putin will do almost nothing for American drivers before the November 3 midterms, but it gives the Kremlin fresh revenue to keep bombing Ukrainian cities, resulting in massive civilian casualties. Even the senators opposing it say the deal will have a negligible impact on fuel prices, while Russian war funding keeps flowing.
The backlash is now bipartisan, and Ukrainians are seeking solutions.
On Tuesday, 12 senators, including Republicans Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, wrote to the President calling the deal “a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies.” Former Vice President Mike Pence urged him to rescind it and use the stronger Sen. Graham sanctions law instead.
Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“Every costly barrel of Russian diesel this deal puts back on the market is paid for twice: once at the pump by consumers, and again on the front lines of Ukraine, in the lives lost by my people courageously defending us against Russian aggression. This deal will not bring US pump prices down before November. What it brings is fresh cash for the missiles falling on Ukrainian homes every day. As Republicans have repeated all week, Russia’s energy money finances Putin’s war machine. The quickest way to end this war is to dry up Russia’s war chest, and the US is well-positioned to do this. President Trump must rescind this deal and enforce the sanctions law he signed last month. Real energy security will never come from a dictator’s refineries. It comes from cheaper, resilient renewables that no tyrant can switch off.”
Summary and calls to action
Just weeks ago, the President signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, passed 86–11 in the Senate and 262–159 in the House. Senators from both parties say the diesel deal runs directly counter to the 2022 ban on Russian energy imports.
To stand with Ukraine, Washington must:
- Rescind Treasury’s General License No. 135 and withdraw from the diesel deal.
- Enforce the Graham Act as written by its October 18 deadline, including mandatory sanctions on vessels carrying Russian oil and gas.
- Back Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s announced bipartisan bill to block all purchases of Russian oil.
- Build real American energy security with renewables, which remain the lowest-cost new power in the US according to Lazard’s 2026 report, not with Russian fossil fuels.
