Six senators oppose Donald Trump Russian diesel plan in Washington

President Donald Trump faced pushback in Washington on Sunday over an agreement to buy fuel from Russia. The bipartisan dispute challenges the administration’s plan to lower high domestic fuel prices through foreign purchases. Four Republican senators and two Democratic senators urged the White House to reverse course immediately.

The White House did not consult Congress before making the agreement. Lawmakers said the administration submitted no explanation to justify the decision under statute.

Trump announced the agreement on social media Friday following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president stated Russia will supply over 300,000 tons of fuel to global and American markets right away.

The posts outlined 500,000 additional tons arriving in November and 1 million tons shortly after that. Another 3 million tons would follow later.

The opposing senators issued a joint statement criticizing the agreement on Sunday.

The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course.

The Republican senators include:

• Susan Collins of Maine
• Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
• Thom Tillis of North Carolina
• John Curtis of Utah

Democratic lawmakers joining the group include:

• Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
• Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

Tillis addressed the policy in Washington during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied.

Tillis said a legitimate case exists that Trump is violating federal law. Congress banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to halt American funding for the war against Ukraine.

Lawmakers also passed legislation directing Trump to impose tariffs on foreign importers buying Russian oil or gas. The measure exempted countries importing under 15% of Russian gas exports that actively reduced those supplies.

Congress was clear: the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies. President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law.

Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, defended Trump’s focus on lowering fuel costs on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions.

Barrasso encouraged Trump to enforce the sanctions passed by Congress. He called the talks another point of leverage against Putin.

Trump blamed Ukraine for high domestic prices. Elevated global energy prices followed the American-led war in Iran.

Congressional oversight allows lawmakers in Washington to review executive actions that affect international commerce and statutory trade bans. Federal agencies must comply with directives enacted through federal statutes. Disputes regarding statutory trade restrictions often proceed through formal legislative inquiries.

The administration has not yet answered the statement from the six lawmakers.