Trump's Russian Diesel Deal Draws GOP, European Backlash Over Millions of Barrels
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 15
Trump's Russian Diesel Deal Draws GOP, European Backlash Over Millions of Barrels
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 15
Summary
Republican lawmakers and European allies intensified pressure on Trump over his Oct. 9 Russian diesel deal, arguing it aids Moscow and undercuts support for Ukraine.
A bipartisan Senate letter Tuesday said the plan to bring millions of barrels of Russian diesel to the U.S. and global markets "should be rescinded" because it would not benefit Americans.
European officials from Ireland to Latvia warned the announcement would weaken transatlantic unity; Lithuania's foreign minister said it would help neither fuel prices nor alliance cohesion.
Trump has already shifted attention to domestic supply moves, including a Wednesday plan to sell Alaskan natural gas to Taiwan and renewed talk of capping U.S. diesel exports.
Oil industry players have largely shrugged off the Russia proposal, skeptical it will materialize even as the political fallout spreads at home and abroad.