Republican lawmakers are moving to block President Donald Trump's plan to lift sanctions on Russian diesel, with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania announcing he will introduce a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping the deal.
Fitzpatrick, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said the legislation — to be called the "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act" — would be forced to the floor of the House through a discharge petition and "will pass overwhelmingly." Outgoing Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is not seeking re-election in the November 3 midterm polls, agreed to co-sponsor it.
"We will be introducing bipartisan legislation to block any and all purchases of Russian oil," Fitzpatrick said in a post on X.
Trump's diesel deal with Putin
The move follows Trump's announcement on Friday, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and the global marketplace, along with a temporary waiver of US sanctions on Moscow.
The announcement drew swift bipartisan criticism. Congress passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act overwhelmingly in both Houses on September 16, and Trump signed it into law two days later. The law empowered the president to impose sweeping sanctions on Moscow and 100% tariffs on its top five oil-and-gas trading partners, including India and China.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Congress banned Russian energy imports in 2022. @POTUS cannot simply ignore that law to buy diesel from Putin. The law mandates consultation with Congress and a formal review process. The Administration appears to have bypassed both."
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-author of the sanctions act, called the deal an "embarrassment", while Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas said lifting sanctions would "only fund the Kremlin's war machine."
Long odds for the bill
The move appears largely symbolic. The current House term expires in January, the bill would also need Senate approval, and it could face opposition from the White House.
Sources:
- Business Standard (PTI): Republican lawmakers to bring bill to block Trump's Russian diesel deal
Fitzpatrick, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said the legislation — to be called the "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act" — would be forced to the floor of the House through a discharge petition and "will pass overwhelmingly." Outgoing Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is not seeking re-election in the November 3 midterm polls, agreed to co-sponsor it.
"We will be introducing bipartisan legislation to block any and all purchases of Russian oil," Fitzpatrick said in a post on X.
Trump's diesel deal with Putin
The move follows Trump's announcement on Friday, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and the global marketplace, along with a temporary waiver of US sanctions on Moscow.
The announcement drew swift bipartisan criticism. Congress passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act overwhelmingly in both Houses on September 16, and Trump signed it into law two days later. The law empowered the president to impose sweeping sanctions on Moscow and 100% tariffs on its top five oil-and-gas trading partners, including India and China.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Congress banned Russian energy imports in 2022. @POTUS cannot simply ignore that law to buy diesel from Putin. The law mandates consultation with Congress and a formal review process. The Administration appears to have bypassed both."
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-author of the sanctions act, called the deal an "embarrassment", while Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas said lifting sanctions would "only fund the Kremlin's war machine."
Long odds for the bill
The move appears largely symbolic. The current House term expires in January, the bill would also need Senate approval, and it could face opposition from the White House.
Sources:
- Business Standard (PTI): Republican lawmakers to bring bill to block Trump's Russian diesel deal
