Trump’s Russia oil deal draws bipartisan backlash: Why the move is under fire | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel imports in a bid to lower fuel prices drew bipartisan criticism that highlighted tensions between domestic economic pressures and Washington’s efforts to limit Moscow’s revenue from its war against Ukraine.
Trump defended the move on Monday by arguing that European countries continue to pay Russia significant amounts for energy.
The announcement followed a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which Trump said Russia had agreed to supply diesel to US and global markets.
The decision drew objections from lawmakers of both parties, who warned that easing the restrictions could undermine efforts to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has also criticized the arrangement, arguing that additional Russian energy revenue could help sustain the war.
The controversy comes as U.S. fuel prices are soaring amid disruptions linked to the war with Iran, attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and tighter supplies of refined petroleum products.
Why is Trump switching to Russian oil?
Trump announced the deal on Friday after a discussion with Putin. As part of the deal, Russia was expected to supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the US and global markets, with more deliveries expected in the coming months.
The move is intended to increase fuel availability at a time when rising diesel prices are putting inflationary pressure on the US economy.
Trump defended his decision in a post on Truth Social, writing: “The European Union paid Russia $250 billion for energy and the Fake News Media does not want to go near this story.
Read also | Trump announces Russia-Ukraine energy truce, but Moscow has not confirmed it
“I made the right choice for the American people – ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST!” he said in a post on Truth Social.
The decision also comes ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, when fuel costs and inflation could affect voters’ assessment of the administration’s economic performance.
Fuel Prices and Inflation: Will the Deal Help Americans?
The average price of diesel in the US hit $6.28 a gallon on Thursday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), after rising about 70% since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28.
Higher diesel prices can contribute to inflation by increasing the cost of transportation, food distribution, agriculture and manufacturing.
Businesses can pass some of these costs on to consumers, making fuel prices an economic issue that goes beyond the transportation industry.
However, Reuters reported questions about whether Russian supplies would be enough to make a significant change in the market. An initial delivery of more than 300,000 tonnes would be an addition to supply, but its impact would depend on delivery schedules, subsequent volumes and the extent of wider outages.
The Trump administration is also considering measures to support domestic fuel production. Reuters reported that officials are exploring ways to address constraints affecting energy output and possibly invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to boost domestic supplies of oil and fuel.
Why are US lawmakers against the deal?
The arrangement has drawn criticism from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who say easing restrictions on Russian fuel risks weakening Washington’s policy toward Moscow.
A bipartisan group of senators urged Trump to reverse the decision, saying it could conflict with measures put in place after Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Congress specifically banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent US dollars from financing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” the lawmakers said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis also questioned the legality of the arrangement, arguing that there is a case where the president is not following the law.
The criticism highlights the tension between the administration’s immediate goal of lowering domestic fuel prices and its longer-term strategy of curbing Russian revenues.
What does the deal mean for sanctions against Russia?
Western sanctions sought to limit Russia’s access to revenue and international markets following its invasion of Ukraine.
The easing of restrictions on Russian oil creates a potential contradiction in that strategy: Washington is trying to increase fuel supplies while continuing to put economic pressure on Russia over the war.
A limited temporary exemption would have a different impact than permanently reopening the US market to Russian oil products.
The decision also raises questions about the coherence of US policy towards its allies.
Washington has previously sought to limit the country’s purchases of Russian energy, including by threatening additional tariffs on India over its energy ties to Moscow.
The diesel deal could therefore complicate Washington’s efforts to persuade other countries to curb Russian energy purchases, particularly if the US itself eases restrictions to deal with domestic economic pressures.
Ukraine warns that Russia could benefit from the deal
Zelenskyy criticized the decision, arguing that allowing Russia to earn more from oil products could help fund its ongoing military campaign.
The announcement came as Ukrainian and American officials held discussions about trying to resolve the war.
According to an Axios report, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the prospect of lifting sanctions on Russian oil during meetings with Ukrainian negotiators in Miami.
The report also said Zelenskyy offered to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stopped attacking Ukrainian power plants.
The conflict involving Iran has increased pressure on global energy markets, and disruptions to supplies through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical route for international trade in oil and petroleum products – have added to supply and price concerns.
The Russian diesel deal is therefore an attempt to solve a supply problem with both geopolitical and logistical dimensions.
