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▲ Good look for TillisForeign Policy

Republicans Denounce Trump’s Diesel Deal With Russia’s Putin Amid Mounting Backlash

Tillis warned that the diesel deal could put Americans at risk and questioned whether it complies with federal law.

Republicans Denounce Trump’s Diesel Deal With Russia’s Putin Amid Mounting Backlash
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Outlet credibilityTIME83/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026
TIME
Oct 12, 2026
tl;dr

Republican and Democratic lawmakers urged President Donald Trump to reverse his plan to import Russian diesel, arguing it conflicts with a 2022 law and could support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said he plans to introduce a bill to block Russian oil purchases, while some administration officials and Republican lawmakers defended the deal.

Community verdict

22 VOTES
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Thom Tillis R · NC · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 8

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Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

SWIPE →
Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

Senator criticizing the diesel agreement and questioning its legality

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who agreed to the Russian diesel deal

Trump's version of this story ↗
Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

Former senator whose name was given to a recently signed Russia sanctions bill

Don Bacon
R · NE-2

Representative who agreed to cosponsor Fitzpatrick’s proposed bill

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Senator who opposed the decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel

Representative planning to introduce a bill blocking Russian oil purchases

Ron Wyden
D · OR · SEN

Senator who signed the bipartisan statement opposing Russian diesel imports

John Barrasso
R · WY · SEN

Senator defending Trump’s decision

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Senator who criticized the diesel deal

Scott Bessent
R · Secretary of the Treasury

Treasury Secretary defending the agreement’s legality

Jeanne Shaheen
D · NH · SEN

Senator who signed the bipartisan statement opposing Russian diesel imports

Richard Blumenthal
D · CT · SEN

Senator who signed the bipartisan statement opposing Russian diesel imports

ALSO MENTIONED  Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine responding to the announced energy cease-fire and diesel agreement; Kaja Kallas, E.U. foreign policy chief criticizing the suspension of Russian diesel sanctions; Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia criticizing the U.S.-Russia agreement; Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada criticizing the agreement; Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden criticizing the U.S.-Russia agreement; Vladimir Putin, President of Russia and party to the diesel supply agreement; Andy Burnham, U.K. Prime Minister expressing solidarity with Ukraine; Wes Streeting, U.K. Defense Secretary opposing the deal

Part of a bigger story

8 OUTLETS
Six Senators Call for Reversal of Russian Diesel Purchase Plan

Six bipartisan senators urged the Trump administration to reverse its plan to buy Russian diesel, and Tillis joined the call. Center outlets focus on the senators’ objections, including legal concerns and the potential financial benefit to Russia; some also report a defense of the plan tied to energy costs.

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