12 October 2026
Donald Trump moved this week to redraw U.S. trade with Russia, promising a flood of Russian diesel that could ease prices ahead of the November elections. But the president is now on a collision course with a bipartisan group of lawmakers who say the deal clashes directly with longstanding U.S. sanctions and could undermine the fight against Vladimir Putin.
Trump's personal agreement with Putin acquiesces in effect to a long-standing ban on Russian energy imports. For the rest of 2024 and into 2025, it would also bring more than 1.8 million tons of diesel into the U.S., nearly 70% from Russia. The deal, initially hailed as an energy ceasefire, is likely to drive down prices ahead of the elections, but critics say it rewards Putin and, by extension, Russia.
The Trump Administration Seals Deals With Russia
President Trump announced the surprise deal last Monday, in an agreement with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin which sparked immediate criticism from lawmakers. The U.S. Treasury temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel to enable the deal, with reports indicating the license allows Russian diesel to flow through April 2025. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration would follow through with the deal using existing authority and that it would help bring prices down.
The deal described by Trump would have Russia supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel initially, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly thereafter. Such volumes would constitute a partial reversal of sanctions the U.S. implemented in 2022 against Russia, which have been a key tool in pressuring Moscow over Ukraine.
Republicans and Democrats Censure Trump's Energy Diplomacy
With energy prices surging in an election year, the arrangement has drawn criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum. The U.S. should not be buying energy from Russia while it continues attacking Ukraine, said Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas.
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Republicans and Democrats are demanding President Trump reverse course on the diesel deal, though administration officials suggest that won't happen. A bipartisan group of seven senators, including four Republicans, released a statement asking the Trump administration to immediately backtrack on the diesel plan. The senators noted Congress passed a ban on energy imports from Russia in 2022 specifically to avoid financing Putin's war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized the deal, framing it as assistance to Russia while it continues military operations. The arrangement has been described as a broader policy reversal that relieves pressure on Moscow amid ongoing conflict. Perhaps most damaging politically, the deal's timing coincides with critical midterm elections that will determine congressional control.
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin moved to capitalize on the arrangement, with reports indicating Russia partially lifted its diesel export ban following the agreement. The deal allows for significant diesel exports to global markets including the U.S.
The key question remains what comes next. Given congressional legislation, any final implementation may face legal challenges more consequential than the initial announcement. If Trump maintains the deal as expected, it could lead to further sanction bypasses and lower fuel prices ahead of the elections.