President Donald Trump on Monday defended the diesel supply agreement he struck with Russia, while lawmakers from both parties complained that the deal appears to violate the U.S. law prohibiting the import of Russian energy until Moscow ends its aggression against Ukraine.
Trump said he was taking steps to reduce the high fuel prices, which are jeopardizing Republicans’ chances in the November 3 midterm elections. Prices have spiked since he declared war on Iran seven months ago, but he blames Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries as the main factor.
“I made the right choice for the American people — ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump said in a post on social media.
Trump stated on Friday that Russia agreed to supply diesel to global markets, and his administration temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel, designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war against Ukraine.
A group of Republican and Democratic U.S. senators on Sunday urged Trump to “reconsider” the diesel supply agreement with Russia. They said the deal could violate a 2022 law intended to support Ukraine in its struggle to repel the Russian invaders.
“We should be further tightening sanctions, not weakening them by allowing the import of Russian diesel and risking the diminution of our influence, harming our credibility with allies, and emboldening our adversaries,” said Republican Senator Jerry Moran in a post on social media.
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy clashed over the weekend about Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Trump said Ukraine needs a new president, and Zelenskiy promised to hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
Trump said on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to suspend attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. It was not clear whether such an agreement would hold.
Zelenskiy told Fox News on Monday that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries were not the main cause of the rise in fuel prices.
“Everyone understands that diesel prices do not depend on our attacks on diesel in Russia. Everyone understands that they depend on the blockade… of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
