Senators Urge Trump to Reverse Diesel Deal With Putin

A bipartisan group of 12 senators called on the president to drop his decision to ease sanctions on Russia's exports of diesel fuel, saying the deal would help Moscow continue the war in Ukraine.

A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday urged President Trump to reverse his decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, warning that the agreement would do little to lower energy costs for Americans and would provide President Vladimir V. Putin with a financial lifeline to continue his war in Ukraine.

"This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies," the senators, including six Democrats and six Republicans, wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump, adding that the agreement would "not achieve just ends, nor will it benefit Americans."

The letter, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, came just weeks after Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation intended to increase economic pressure on Moscow and its allies.

The Republican signatories included Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Cornyn of Texas and Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma. Most of those Republicans have spoken out against Mr. Trump on various issues in recent years. They joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Chris Coons of Delaware and Mr. Blumenthal, all Democrats.

The lawmakers argued that allowing Russian diesel back into global markets would have a negligible effect on fuel prices, even as the administration seeks to ease energy disruptions stemming from the war with Iran. Instead, they warned, the revenue would benefit Russia and "undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition and advance its security cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea."

Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.