Russian diesel deal "a betrayal," bipartisan coalition says
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President Trump's deal to lift sanctions on Russia to increase diesel supplies "is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine" and "a gift to our adversary," a bipartisan coalition of senators wrote in a letter admonishing the agreement.
Why it matters: The decision to turn to Vladimir Putin in an attempt to ease the diesel crunch is piling onto Republican headaches ahead of the midterms and fueling fresh friction between the U.S. and Ukraine.
What they're saying: The deal "will not achieve just ends, nor will it benefit Americans," the senators warned, urging Trump to withdraw from it and ramp up the economic pressure on Russia as called for in a sanctions bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham that he signed into law last month.
- While record-shattering diesel and gas prices are squeezing key industries and American households, the lawmakers argued that "allowing Russian-origin diesel into global markets will offer limited to no relief to Americans."
- Analysts have expressed doubt that the levels Trump pitched will meaningfully sway prices, Axios' Ben Geman reports.
- However, the lawmakers argued that it will "undoubtedly finance" Russia's war "and advance its security cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea."
The fine print: The signers are Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
- The White House directed Axios to the president's remarks to reporters Tuesday.
- He said described the agreement as a "diesel deal that's going to be released into the world for the world market because the world market suffers with high prices. And when you knock out diesel refineries, that's not a great thing, but they're not releasing that to us. They're releasing it to the entire world."
Zoom out: That bipartisan coalition has fellow dissenters on the Hill, including members of the president's party who swiftly condemned the deal.
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) vowed over the weekend to force a vote to block Russian oil purchases, predicting that "it will pass overwhelmingly."
- Retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told Axios' Andrew Solender he "already agreed" to sign the petition.
Friction point: As lawmakers sound the alarm, the agreement reignited tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios' Barak Ravid the deal "looks like a happy birthday present for Putin."
- But Axios also reported that Trump decided to make the deal after Ukraine continued its highly effective attacks on Russian oil refineries, which contributed to spiking prices, despite the U.S. requesting that they halt such strikes.
What we're watching: The administration's deadline to implement the sanctions law honoring Graham is Oct. 18 — but the legislation allows the president to waive key provisions.
Go deeper: Trump's Russia deal leaves GOP candidates with a Putin problem
