Texas – Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn called on President Donald Trump to reverse his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian diesel fuel to enter global markets, warning that the decision could undermine U.S. national security and provide Moscow with additional revenue as its war against Ukraine continues.
“Allowing Russian diesel fuel to be sold freely in global markets, including in the United States, weakens American security interests and helps fund Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine,” Cornyn reportedly said.
Cornyn said he had joined 11 Senate colleagues from both parties in signing a letter urging Trump to rescind the agreement and maintain economic pressure on Russia.
“We must maintain economic pressure to keep our negotiating position strong and protect vital U.S. national security interests,” Cornyn added.
The bipartisan letter followed Trump’s October 9 announcement that Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel to international markets, with additional shipments planned in the following months. The agreement included a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel exports, prompting criticism from lawmakers who said the move could weaken efforts to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
The dispute has drawn attention because Congress previously prohibited Russian energy imports following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lawmakers opposed to the new arrangement argue that allowing Russian fuel to be sold freely would undermine the economic pressure intended to limit the Kremlin’s ability to finance its military campaign.
The letter was signed by six Republican senators and six Democrats, including Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Dick Durbin, Alan Armstrong, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lisa Murkowski, Jack Reed, Chris Coons and Mitch McConnell, alongside Cornyn.
The senators argued that allowing Russian diesel to be sold more freely would provide Moscow with a financial benefit while offering little relief to American consumers facing high energy prices. They also warned that the additional revenue could help Russia sustain its military campaign and strengthen its cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea.
In their letter, the senators wrote that the agreement would not achieve a just resolution to the war or benefit Americans. They called on Trump to withdraw from the arrangement, rescind the Treasury Department’s General License No. 135, which eased sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and implement the sanctions authorities approved by Congress in September.
The letter also cited the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed into law last month. The legislation was intended to strengthen economic pressure on Russia and countries that help sustain its war effort. The senators said the administration should use those authorities to increase pressure on Moscow and its major partners rather than ease restrictions on Russian energy exports.
The Associated Press reported on October 13 that opposition to the agreement had grown across party lines, with lawmakers questioning whether the arrangement could violate existing U.S. law and undermine efforts to support Ukraine. The 2022 law banning Russian energy imports was adopted after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The legislation includes conditions governing when the import prohibition may be lifted.
Reuters also reported on October 11 that Republican and Democratic senators had called on Trump to reverse course, arguing that the administration had not adequately consulted Congress or provided the required legal justification for its decision. Some Republican lawmakers questioned whether easing sanctions would weaken the United States’ negotiating position with Russia.
Trump has defended the agreement as an effort to increase fuel supplies and address high energy prices. Speaking to reporters on October 12, he dismissed criticism from Republicans, saying they could not be serious about their objections. He also argued that the diesel would be released into the global market rather than exclusively supplied to the United States.
However, the potential impact on prices remains uncertain. The Associated Press reported that energy experts questioned whether the additional Russian diesel would significantly lower U.S. fuel prices, particularly as disruptions associated with the conflict involving Iran have contributed to higher energy costs. Critics of the deal argue that any potential price benefit would be outweighed by the revenue Russia could receive.
Cornyn’s October 13 statement places him among the Republicans publicly challenging Trump’s approach to Russia, despite belonging to the president’s party. His criticism centers on maintaining economic pressure on Putin while protecting U.S. security interests and continuing support for Ukraine.
The senators’ letter calls for the administration to reverse the diesel agreement and enforce the sanctions authorities approved by Congress. The dispute has become another point of disagreement over how the United States should balance domestic energy costs with its efforts to restrict Russia’s ability to finance its war against Ukraine.
