Numerous lawmakers and critics blasted President Donald Trump’s Friday announcement that he had struck a deal to obtain millions of tons of Russian diesel after several years of U.S. and international pressure on Moscow over its war against Ukraine.
“I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday.
The Treasury Department followed up Trump’s post with a statement saying it has issued a “temporary general license to allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market.”
The stunning move comes less than a month after Trump signed a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at starving off Russia’s energy revenue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the announcement “a weak decision,” saying it played right 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.”
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were quick to condemn the move, with many saying Trump was helping to fuel Putin’s war machine for the purpose of lowering global oil prices ahead of the midterm elections.
“You know how Trump could bring down gas and diesel prices? By ending his illegal war with Iran,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on X.
“70% of Americans support Ukraine. Propping up Putin’s war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) wrote on X.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) called the bipartisan move to give Trump expanded tariff power in the sanctions bill a “mistake.”
“Now he’s *lifting* sanctions on Russian fossil fuels,” Beyer wrote on X.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a fierce critic of Trump, even called on Ukraine to ramp up its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure following the announcement.
“Ukraine needs to double down on hitting Russian oil now,” Kinzinger wrote on X.
Read more reactions to Trump’s announcement from lawmakers and critics below: