Dispute over Russian diesel in the USA. Bipartisan opposition in the Senate

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had concluded an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the supply of diesel oil. At the same time, the Treasury Department issued a license under which US sanctions will not apply until April 2027 to Russian diesel loaded on tankers until Friday.

The decision of the US administration sparked bipartisan opposition in the Senate. In a joint statement on Sunday, senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal and Ron Wyden of the Democratic Party and Republicans Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Curtis recalled that the ban on the import of Russian fuel was introduced after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

"Congress has clearly banned the import of Russian energy resources in 2022 so that American dollars do not finance Putin's brutal war against Ukraine," the politicians wrote.

The senators stressed that the United States should not provide a "financial lifeline" to the Kremlin as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. They called on the administration to immediately reverse its decision.

The Act provides for specific conditions

Politicians refer to the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, signed by President Joe Biden on April 8, 2022. The regulations introduced a ban on imports from Russia, among others. mineral fuels, mineral oils, their distillation products and diesel oil.

The act provides that the ban may be lifted only after a written certificate from the president is presented to Congress. It would have to confirm, among other things, that Russia has concluded an agreement with Ukraine, accepted by its authorities, regarding the withdrawal of troops and the end of hostilities. Russia would also have to stop posing a direct military threat to NATO countries and recognize Ukraine's right to an independent government.

According to the act, the president should consult congressional committees in advance and submit a report justifying the decision. Senators say Donald Trump has failed to meet these requirements.

Scott Bessent: The agreement is legal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refuted the allegations in an interview with Fox News, arguing that the agreement with Russia is beneficial to the United States and legal. We will do this using all the legal powers we have. Anyone in Congress who claims - whether regarding the old Act or the current Act. Lindsey Graham - that she forbids us from doing this is wrong - he said.

However, the politician did not explain in detail the legal basis on which it would be possible to suspend the restrictions. Nate Sibley, a sanctions expert with the U.S. Helsinki Commission, noted that the 2022 law was implemented through a presidential executive order. However, it allowed for the issuance of temporary licenses exempting certain transactions from sanctions.