Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s recent decisions on Russia, warning that easing sanctions, importing Russian diesel and restricting military support for Ukraine were strengthening Vladimir Putin’s war machine while undermining American leadership.
In an opinion article titled “When Freedom Comes Knocking at Our Door,” published Tuesday, Oct. 20, Curtis, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused the administration of taking steps that benefit Moscow as Russian forces continue their attacks on Ukrainian cities.
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“These actions embolden and materially support a regime that is currently waging a war of conquest against a sovereign nation,” Curtis wrote.
He warned that Washington’s decisions were damaging international security and undermining confidence among allies in America’s commitment to shared Western values.
“Capitulating to an authoritarian dictator shows weakness and sets back the cause of freedom,” the senator declared.
Senator challenges Trump’s sanctions waiver and Russian diesel deal
Curtis singled out Trump’s Oct. 16 executive order suspending additional sanctions and tariffs authorized under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.
The legislation had received broad bipartisan support in Congress and was intended to increase economic pressure on Moscow and countries purchasing Russian energy.
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Curtis said the administration’s decision to freeze those measures, combined with an agreement to import hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel, would provide additional revenue to Russia while its military continues fighting in Ukraine.
During an October Senate discussion, Curtis emphasized that restricting Russia’s energy revenues was necessary to weaken its ability to sustain the invasion.
His latest intervention places him among Republicans publicly challenging the administration’s recent Russia policy, despite their party’s control of the White House.
Starshield restrictions and intelligence disruptions raise alarm
Curtis also questioned recent restrictions affecting Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications system, which Ukrainian forces use in battlefield operations.
He said the restrictions had disrupted Ukrainian drone operations and raised questions about who authorized the changes.
Citing Elon Musk’s statements that the US government controls the restrictions, Curtis demanded greater clarity over the decisions affecting Ukraine’s military capabilities.
He also criticized Washington’s demands that Kyiv halt attacks on Russian petroleum facilities without securing an equivalent commitment from Moscow to stop striking Ukrainian infrastructure.
The senator further raised concerns about an interruption in US intelligence sharing that provides Ukraine with warnings of incoming long-range ballistic missile attacks.
These concerns have become especially urgent as Russia intensifies strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities and residential areas ahead of winter.
‘Ukraine is no longer a dependent friend’
Curtis based part of his argument on his recent congressional visit to Ukraine, where he traveled to Kyiv and Kharkiv with Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Alan Armstrong.
The delegation examined Ukrainian battlefield innovations, including unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies, and met Ukrainian officials and military personnel.
Curtis said the experience demonstrated that Ukraine was contributing directly to American national security through technological innovation and battlefield intelligence.
“Ukraine is no longer a dependent friend,” he wrote, describing the country as an increasingly important strategic partner.
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