US Senators Challenge Trump Diesel Deal With Moscow

US lawmakers challenged the legality of a diesel agreement with Moscow after President Donald Trump announced Friday that he had negotiated large-scale Russian diesel deliveries for US and global markets, a move that prompted concerns over congressional restrictions. Six Democratic and Republican senators said the decision conflicted with a 2022 law passed by Congress after Russia's invasion of Ukraine that prohibits Russian energy imports. The senators cited the measure as they criticized the authorization of Russian diesel imports into the United States.

"President Trump's decision to authorize Russian diesel imports into the United States directly goes against the law," said Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, senators.

The lawmakers added that Congress had restricted Russian oil imports until Moscow ended its aggression against Ukraine and stopped threatening NATO allies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's position when asked about the issue on Fox News, saying the government believed it had legal authority to proceed.

"We will act using all the legal powers available to us," said Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary. Bessent said the administration disagreed with claims that the agreement was prohibited and argued the measure would lower diesel prices for Americans.

"So, know that anyone in Congress who claims that this is prohibited is wrong," said Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary. Trump's announcement involved lifting sanctions affecting Moscow to allow the diesel deliveries, according to the report from lesaffaires.com.