Republicans Denounce Trump’s Diesel Deal With Russia’s Putin Amid Mounting Backlash
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended the move, insisting the agreement with Russia will work through existing legal channels the U.S. has to help bring prices down.
“We’re doing it with all the legal authorities we have, so anyone in Congress who says that—whether it’s an old bill or the current Lindsey Graham bill—prohibits us from doing it, is wrong,” he told Fox News.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming has also defended the diesel deal, telling CBS’ Face the Nation that the President “has to make tough decisions.”
U.S. allies warn Trump’s diesel deal could bolster Russia’s war
Zelensky described Trump’s initial announcement as a “gift to Putin” and said easing sanctions on Russia was “an obvious weakness” that “plays into Russia’s hands—allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world.”
The agreement has also drawn criticism from international leaders, particularly in Europe, where governments have played a central role in supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
