Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced plans to introduce a bipartisan measure aimed at preventing the removal of sanctions on Russian diesel, a step he said was prompted by discussions held between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. Nebraska's outgoing Republican congressman Don Bacon added his name as a co-sponsor of the legislation, lending backing to Fitzpatrick's proposal.
Fitzpatrick, who holds a co-chair position in the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, posted on X that bipartisan legislation aimed at blocking purchases of Russian oil would be put forward under the title "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act." The bill's path to passage before the House term ends in January remains constrained by time, a factor that has prompted some analysts to raise questions about how much the measure could realistically accomplish. He added that the measure would reach a floor vote through the discharge process and predicted it would pass by a wide margin, noting he had already committed to joining as an original cosponsor.
Bacon, who has chosen not to seek another term in the November 3 midterm elections, posted on X that legislative action from Congress was needed.
Following a phone conversation between Trump and Putin on Friday, the two sides announced an agreement under which Russia would begin delivering 300,000 tons of diesel to the United States and international markets.
Passed by both chambers of Congress the month prior, the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act — which authorised the president to impose broad sanctions on Moscow and 100 per cent tariffs on its five largest oil and gas trading partners, a group that included India and China — drew varied responses from Congressional leaders. At least one lawmaker stated publicly that a ban on Russian energy imports dating to 2022 remained on the books and that the executive branch held no authority to set that prohibition aside in order to procure diesel fuel from Russia. Under the statute, both a formal review process and consultation with Congress are required before proceeding.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who holds the ranking member position on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the Administration had not followed the procedures required by either provision. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the Russia sanctions legislation, described Trump's agreement with Putin as an embarrassment, registering his opposition to the arrangement in formal remarks.
Legislation targeting Russia and Iran, developed jointly by Blumenthal and the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, won approval across both chambers of Congress on September 16, with the tally reflecting support from well more than half the membership. The Act received Trump's signature two days after its passage.
Following the passage of Russia sanctions legislation by the US Congress on September 16, three lawmakers staked out distinct positions on the question of Russian oil. Blumenthal urged China and India to halt their purchases from Russia. Democrat Dave Min of California raised the possibility that continued American oil arrangements with Russia could expose the US to its own sanctions framework. Republican Michael McCaul of Texas, while acknowledging the appeal of lower diesel prices, posted on X that directing revenue toward Russia through eased restrictions carried risks for military funding, citing recent developments as illustrative of those concerns.
