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NEW YORK Sunday, October 11, 2026

Europe

US senators call Trump's diesel deal with Russia illegal

Seven senators from both parties question legality of Trump's Russian diesel import agreement.

New York Editorial News Desk October 11, 2026 1 min read

The Brief

  • Seven US senators from both parties claim the deal violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports.
  • The agreement allows Russian diesel exports in exchange for eased sanctions, drawing criticism from Ukraine and the EU.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the deal as legal under existing authorities.

Seven US senators from both parties issued a statement Sunday asserting that President Donald Trump's agreement to permit Russian diesel exports violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports.

The deal, announced by Trump on Friday, involves releasing a large amount of Russian diesel in exchange for temporarily easing US sanctions, a move that has faced immediate criticism from Ukraine, the EU, and several American lawmakers.

The senators' statement emphasized that Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American funds from supporting Putin's war against Ukraine.

The statement was co-signed by Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, and Ron Wyden, along with four Republican senators: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, John Curtis, and Thom Tillis.

The senators argued that Trump's decision to allow Russian diesel imports contradicts the law and that the administration has not consulted Congress or provided an explanation as required by statute.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the deal on Sunday, stating that the administration is proceeding with all legal authorities available.

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