Years ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confronted Donald Trump, stating, “All roads lead to Putin.” Her words resurfaced after Trump’s recent deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel to the U.S., a move criticized for potentially aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine and violating U.S. laws.
This deal aims to ease sky-high prices at the pumps for Americans ahead of the midterm elections. However, it has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats as fueling Russia’s war against Ukraine, violating existing U.S. laws, and drawing the U.S. closer to Russia.
Criticism from Congress
A bipartisan group of six senators urged Trump to reverse course, saying the U.S. “should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline.” Trump, however, held fast to his deal with Putin and lashed out, blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for America’s high diesel costs.
Trump also insisted that an energy ceasefire is in place for Ukraine and Russia, despite Zelenskyy saying that Moscow continued to strike his country’s energy sites. Energy experts have said the flow of Russian diesel is unlikely to lower prices in the U.S., which have escalated largely due to disruptions from the U.S. war against Iran.
William Taylor, a former U.S. It’s not at all clear the Trump-Putin deal will deliver the supply boost the president is seeking to bring down prices.
Legislative Background
Congress voted to halt Russian imports, but Trump has other plans. Congress swiftly approved legislation at the outset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spring of 2022 to ban the import of Russian energy products, which are widely viewed as providing the financial fuel for Putin’s military assault on Ukraine.
The bill passed the House on an overwhelming 414-17 vote and the Senate without a single senator opposed. The law says the president can seek to lift the prohibition if an agreement had been reached to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and cease military activity.
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Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, the bill’s chief sponsor, said, “Trump is directly violating that law,” and that he “illegally rewards his pal Putin while once again blaming Zelensky for not capitulating to Putin.”
Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who faces a competitive race for the U.S. Senate, said, “It makes me a little bit nervous anytime we’re talking about relieving a sanction on Russia.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been urged by Senate leaders to tackle the “shadow fleet” of tankers that Moscow is using to transport oil and bypass America’s sanctions.
Sanctions and Diplomatic Relations
The letter was sent before Trump announced his deal with Putin, which he said would unleash hundreds of tons of diesel.
Trump signed a sweeping Russian sanctions bill into law last month, which would slap tariffs on countries that continue importing Russian oil. The bulk of the law’s provisions go into effect October 18, the end of the administration’s 30-day review period.
Political Implications
The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices, adding to the political pressure on the issue.
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