Political Guyentist
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[UPDATE] Four Republican senators join Democrats in demanding Trump reverse his Russian diesel deal, saying he skipped steps the law requires

Thomas Massie (Rep-R Kentucky) backed the deal and urged lifting sanctions on other petroleum products, copper and aluminum too.

A bipartisan group of senators said Sunday, Oct. 11, that Trump should reverse the license letting Russian diesel into the U.S. Their reasons: the administration never consulted Congress or gave the explanation the law requires, and the deal hands Moscow money while it keeps attacking Ukraine. AP counted six signers; Politico counted seven, adding Ron Wyden (Sen-D Oregon). The Republicans. Susan Collins (Sen-R Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Sen-R Alaska), Thom Tillis (Sen-R North Carolina) and John Curtis (Sen-R Utah) signed on. Collins said she co-sponsored the sanctions law Trump "recently signed but is now not following." The leverage. Tillis said there is a legitimate case the deal breaks the law, and tied it to funding talks: "If the president wants my support the president needs to understand this is a problem, and I'm not the only Republican concerned with this."

PREVIOUSLY

  • Sept. 15 — Trump announced a Russia-Ukraine truce on energy strikes; Kyiv called it conditional.
  • Sept. 16 — The House passed a bill letting the president put tariffs of up to 100% on the five biggest buyers of Russian oil or gas, 262-159, per Reuters.
  • Sept. 18 — Trump signed it, per the White House; the law, named for Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in July, also sanctions Russian officials and shadow-fleet tankers.
  • Sept. 21–23 — Trump pressed Ukraine to stop hitting Russian refineries, citing diesel prices; Zelensky proposed a mutual halt on energy and port strikes.
  • Oct. 4 — Putin added a sale of Lukoil's foreign oil assets to talks; buyers include Witkoff and Kushner business partners.
  • Oct. 10 — Treasury suspended Russian diesel sanctions until April 7, 2027, after Trump said Russia would send diesel to the U.S.; Zelensky called it "a happy birthday present for Putin."
  • Oct. 11 — Russian glide bombs killed 20 in Zaporizhzhia; Putin told Trump talks would not resume soon.