US President Donald Trump is facing a growing backlash over his plan to import diesel from Russia, as the Iran war keeps global energy prices high.
The Trump Russian diesel backlash has come from lawmakers in both parties and from world leaders.
Trump announced on Friday that President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately to the American and global markets.
He said 500,000 tonnes would follow in November, then one million more.
A further three million tonnes would come “within a short period,” depending on the condition of Russian refineries, which Ukraine has attacked.
On Sunday, seven senators, four Republicans and three Democrats, said the deal violated US law. They urged Trump to “reverse course.”
“The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians,” they said.
They added that Congress had “explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine.”
The statement was signed by Republicans Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis and John Curtis.
Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal and Ron Wyden also signed it.
The deal is also awkward for Trump because he signed a law only weeks ago authorising fresh sanctions and tariffs on countries that import Russian oil and gas.
However, not everyone opposes it. Republican Thomas Massie said the US should lift sanctions on all petroleum products.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the deal works through existing legal channels, and that anyone in Congress who said otherwise was wrong.
“Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, confirmed the figures to the state news agency Tass.
He said exports could reach three million tonnes a month in future.
The US Treasury is understood to be suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7. Other Russian assets, such as those in American banks, remain frozen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the deal a gift to Putin and “an investment in a war that must be ended.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting have also criticised it.
Streeting said the US and other allies of Ukraine should focus on increasing pressure on Russia to end the war
Global fuel prices have soared since the US-Israel war with Iran began at the end of February.
The rising costs have become a key issue ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy and the war.
Farm states have felt the pain most, since they rely heavily on diesel for machinery and transport.
The AAA puts the average diesel price at $6.28 a gallon, down from the record $6.53 at the end of September.
Analysts doubt Russia can deliver such volumes, and question how much relief American motorists would see.
The US uses about 3.6 million barrels of diesel a day.
Even if Russia delivers the first 300,000 tonnes this month, it would cover roughly half of one day’s consumption.
On Sunday, Trump also announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky welcomed it, but Moscow has not responded.
