Donald Trump's offensives against Ukraine divide within his own camp

In one weekend, Donald Trump inflicted blow after blow on his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. First, by lifting sanctions against Russia to allow it to export diesel. Then, affirming on Saturday October 10 that “it is time for Ukraine to have a new president”. Less than a month before the midterm elections, Donald Trump is looking for a scapegoat to forget the war in Iran and inflation. But Republican elected officials are divided on the maneuver.

The argument of a possible drop in gasoline prices has been hammered out by members of the Trump administration since Friday. Even elected officials who support sanctions against Russia are forced to back down. Like Tom Emmer, the number 3 Republican in the House of Representatives: "This is proof that our president thinks differently. The Americans are suffering the consequences of the global diesel market and the president is trying to find the best solutions to help them. On Ukraine and Russia, there is no one other than him to solve this problem."

“The president must above all sign the law which provides for new sanctions”

In a press release, seven senators, including four Republicans, believe that the agreement goes against a 2022 law banning the import of Russian energy. A Republican elected official even plans to organize a vote to block its application. Senator Thom Tillis evokes the memory of his colleague Lindsey Graham, who died in July and fervent support of Ukraine. "The president must above all sign the law which provides for new sanctions, annoys Thom Tillis. This agreement on Russian diesel is an insult to Lindsey Graham's efforts to obtain these sanctions. The president should apply them instead of proudly seeking Russian diesel." Scott Bessent, the Minister of Finance, assures that Donald Trump has the right to sign this agreement and that he is doing so in “the interest of the American people”.