President Donald Trump has agreed with Russia to release diesel fuel to lower prices before the November 3 midterm elections, a move North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis warns may be illegal and unsafe.
President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel to the United States and global markets, reversing years of U.S. sanctions policy designed to cut off Moscow’s energy revenue following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump posted on Truth Social that the arrangement followed a highly successful discussion
with Putin, with an initial delivery of more than 300,000 metric tons immediately, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and a subsequent 1 million tons as part of the plan.
The Treasury Department issued a temporary general license through April 7, 2027, to waive energy sanctions and allow the supply of Russian diesel. This comes as the national diesel average sits at $6.28 a gallon by AAA data cited by the Associated Press. Trump called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt attacks on energy infrastructure while addressing the global crisis.
Tillis Warns Fuel Deal May Break Law
Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, denounced the agreement on NBC’s Meet the Press,
warning that the president’s action may run afoul of federal statutes passed following the war in Ukraine that banned Russian oil imports. Tillis pointed to legislation enacted by Congress requiring specific conditions—such as a complete Russian withdrawal—before sanctions could be lifted.
I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law. We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory they occupied.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
Tillis also warned that the arrangement places American lives at risk by bolstering Moscow’s ties to Iran and funding mercenaries. The senator linked his concerns to upcoming year-end congressional funding negotiations, noting that support for baseline and military operations depends on understanding these policy problems.
The agreement follows a phone call between Trump, aged 80, and Putin, aged 74, lasting an hour and a half and described by a Russian aide as intense and friendly.
Market analysts expressed skepticism about the potential impact of the release on global supply and price stability. Independent energy analysts noted that it is uncertain how much actual downward pressure the release will place on global shortages or pump prices.
Zelenskyy Calls Sanctions Relief a Betrayal
Ukrainian officials expressed severe dismay over the timing and substance of the agreement. A senior Ukrainian official described the announcement as a trap that blindsided Kyiv’s delegation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the justification for lifting sanctions, arguing that economic relief for Moscow prolongs the conflict.
Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness. It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Trump later announced an energy ceasefire
between Russia and Ukraine effective immediately on October 11. Zelenskyy indicated that Kyiv supported steps toward de-escalation while waiting for concrete details from Washington.
Lawmakers Challenge Delivery Timeline
Energy analysts and congressional lawmakers questioned whether the diesel shipments would arrive quickly enough to impact prices before voters head to the polls on November 3.
Members of Congress drafted bipartisan legislation to prohibit all purchases of Russian petroleum in response to the administration’s regulatory exemptions. Lawmakers argued that welcoming Russian refined hydrocarbons back into Western supply chains undermines allied budgets dedicated to starving Moscow’s wartime economy.
The Kremlin has issued no immediate confirmation of the energy ceasefire.