Republican Lawmakers Oppose Diesel Deal with Russia, Criticize Trump's Remarks on Zelensky

A number of Republican lawmakers have publicly distanced themselves from a diesel import agreement negotiated by the Trump administration with Russia. They also voiced disapproval over President Trump's recent call for a change in Ukraine's leadership, suggesting that President Volodymyr Zelensky should be replaced. These developments were reported by both The Hill and Axios on Saturday.

The deal, which was announced on Friday, permits Russia to supply over 300,000 tons of diesel immediately to the United States and global markets. Additional shipments of 500,000 tons are scheduled for November, with the possibility of up to three million more tons depending on Russian refinery capacities.

Trump presented this agreement as a strategy to mitigate fuel prices, which have surged due to energy shortages stemming from U.S. military actions against Iran and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, energy analysts remain skeptical about the deal's actual effect on fuel costs.

The response from within the Republican Party was swift and firm.

Senator John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) expressed support for the president's goal to lower fuel prices but disagreed with "importing it from Putin." Kennedy emphasized, "Vladimir Putin is a butcher. He is a butcher of his own people and the good people of Ukraine," and added that ending the war in Iran would be a more effective measure to reduce diesel prices.

Former Representative Mike Rogers (R-Michigan), who is running for Senate in his state, was more forthright: "No, not in importing it from Russia. In fact, I have called for a temporary export ban to provide some relief while farmers are in the midst of harvest."

Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that lifting sanctions on Russian oil "would only fund the Kremlin’s war machine, encouraging further violence and destruction."

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) remarked on social media platform X that Trump "should utilize those authorities instead of allowing Russia to export diesel, accumulate revenue, and continue its catastrophic war in Ukraine," referencing the Lindsey O. Graham Act of Sanctions on Russia and Iran, which Trump signed just three weeks prior.

"We can discuss Russia's return to global energy markets once the war ends, but for now, we need to cut off everything that fuels it," she added.

This legislation, passed with broad bipartisan support, authorizes tariffs of up to 100% against major buyers of Russian energy, making the diesel agreement a direct contradiction to the recently enacted law.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, announced on Saturday a bipartisan legislative initiative called the "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act" aimed at blocking purchases of Russian oil. He intends to bring it to the floor through a discharge petition.

"It will be brought to the floor through discharge and will pass overwhelmingly," Fitzpatrick posted on social media, also defending Zelensky: "The Ukrainian president has the overwhelming support of the U.S. Congress, the American people, and the Ukrainian people."

Representative Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), who is retiring from Congress, confirmed to Axios that he has agreed to sign Fitzpatrick's discharge petition.

Zelensky, meanwhile, described the deal as "unjust and dishonest," claiming it amounts to a gift to Putin that would finance the war against Ukraine. Trump responded on Saturday by suggesting Ukraine should replace Zelensky with a leader willing to negotiate with Russia.

Fitzpatrick's legislative path faces significant hurdles: the House is not scheduled to meet until after the midterm elections on November 3, and any approved bill would also need Senate approval and could face a presidential veto.