Republican and Democratic US senators called on President Donald Trump on Sunday to "reverse course" on his diesel supply deal with Russia, saying it runs counter to US law barring imports of energy until Russia ends its aggression against Ukraine.
"Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine," the seven senators -- four of Trump's fellow Republicans and three Democrats -- said in a statement.
They also said that the administration failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation of its decision, something also required by law.
"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 statement said.
It was only the latest bipartisan criticism of Trump's deal, a shift from his party's near-unanimous support for Trump's foreign policy decision weeks before Nov. 3 midterm elections that will determine whether his Republicans will retain their control of Congress.
It was issued by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Tillis had said earlier Sunday that the diesel deal may be illegal and would put American lives at risk.
Trump said Friday that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets, and his administration temporarily lifted US sanctions on Russian fuel designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war on Ukraine.
“I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law,” Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate in January, told NBC's "Meet the Press." Prices for diesel — used for agriculture, heating homes and trucking — are near record highs and could hurt Republicans in next month's congressional elections.
Analysts have said that Trump's agreement with Moscow was unlikely to lead to sustained lower fuel prices.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday that the Trump administration will follow through with the deal using existing legal authority, and the agreement was good for the American people and would bring prices down.
"We're going to do it with all the legal authorities we have. So, you know, anyone in Congress who says whether it's an old bill or the current Lindsey Graham bill (that) prohibits us from doing it is wrong," Bessent said. (Reuters)