A bipartisan group of seven United States senators has publicly accused President Donald Trump of violating federal law by allowing Russian diesel fuel into the country, according to Bankier.pl.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the lawmakers said the president’s decision “directly contradicts” the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on 8 April 2022.
“Congress explicitly banned the import of Russian energy resources in 2022 so that American dollars would not finance Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” wrote Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal and Ron Wyden, alongside Republicans Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Curtis.
They added that the United States “should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline whilst Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians” and demanded the administration “immediately change course”.
What the law requires
The 2022 legislation imposes a total ban on all Russian fuel products, including mineral fuels, mineral oils and distillation products such as diesel. Article 3 of the act sets out strict conditions under which the prohibition may be lifted.
The president must submit written certification to Congress stating that Russia has reached an agreement to withdraw troops and cease hostilities, accepted by a “free and independent” Ukrainian government, poses no direct military threat to any NATO member, and recognises Ukraine’s right to independent governance.
Even after such certification, the ban can only be lifted after 90 calendar days, unless Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval. At least 45 days before submitting certification, the president must also consult with relevant committees in both chambers and provide a report explaining the basis for the decision. President Trump fulfilled none of these requirements.
Treasury defends the deal
Despite the legal challenge, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted in a Sunday interview with Fox News that the agreement with Russia is both beneficial to the United States and lawful.
“We will do this using all the legal authority we have. Anyone in Congress who claims—whether referring to the old law or the current Lindsey Graham Act—that it prohibits us from doing this is mistaken,” Bessent said. He did not elaborate on the legal justification for suspending the sanctions.
Sanctions expert Nate Sibley of the US Helsinki Commission noted on X that the 2022 statute required implementation through a presidential executive order, which at the time allowed for temporary licences exempting certain transactions. According to Sibley, the situation is “extremely ambiguous and probably inconsistent with Congress’s intentions”.
Trump announced the diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday via social media. The Treasury Department simultaneously issued a licence exempting Russian diesel loaded onto tankers by Friday from American sanctions until April 2027.
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced on Saturday that he would introduce fresh legislation banning diesel imports from Russia and force a vote on the matter. Fellow Republican Don Bacon voiced his support.
German press condemns Trump
German media outlets have sharply criticised the president’s actions. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung called Trump “Putin’s best helper”, whilst Der Tagesspiegel labelled him “Moscow’s man” and described his behaviour as “embarrassing”. Handelsblatt characterised the diesel pact as a “betrayal of Ukraine and Europe”.
Commentators argued that Trump sees Ukraine, particularly President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as an obstacle to doing business with Russia and noted that the president called for Zelenskyy’s resignation shortly after concluding the fuel agreement.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For Poles living in Britain, this development underscores the fragility of Western unity on Ukraine and sanctions policy at a time when many in the Polish community maintain strong ties to both Ukraine and Poland’s eastern border security concerns. The dispute also highlights diverging transatlantic approaches to Russia, which may affect future NATO cohesion and collective defence commitments that directly impact Poland’s security.
Whilst the direct economic effect on the UK is limited, any weakening of sanctions enforcement could embolden Russian aggression and complicate efforts by Britain and the European Union to maintain a united front. Poles in the UK who support Ukraine or have family in Poland should monitor how the situation develops, particularly whether Congress passes new legislation to block the deal or whether legal challenges succeed in US courts.
