ESG Daily, RUSSIAN SANCTIONS RELIEF—Bipartisan group of senators implore President Trump to rescind diesel oil and sanctions relief deal struck with Putin, (Oct 14, 2026)
“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies” the six Democratic and six Republican senators wrote in their letter to the president.
A bipartisan coalition of 12 U.S. senators recently published a letter to President Trump urging him to pull back from a deal he reached with Russian President Vladamir Putin on October 9th, and further rescind the Treasury Department’s issuance of General License No. 135, which lifts sanctions on Russia’s diesel exports. The senators told the president that these actions, “will not achieve just ends, nor will it benefit Americans, it only provides Putin with more fuel to finance his war machine and enables Russia to continue its brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilians.”
Letter signatories. Democrats signing the letter include Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (R.I.), and Christopher Coons (D-Del). The Republican signatories included Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C), Susan Collins (R- Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Alan Armstrong (R-Okla).
Truth Social post. The senators were responding to the President Trump’s October 9th Truth Social post wherein he announced that he had concluded a “highly successful discussion” with Vladimir Putin to bring Russian diesel back to the global and domestic markets to combat surging fuel prices. Additionally, the president asserted that between his deal with Putin, together with total control of the Strait of Hormuz, “Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!”
Concurrently, the president also directed the Treasury Department to issue a temporary general license waiving sanctions specifically on Russian diesel exports through April 2027.
Key points from the senators’ letter. The letter urges the president to reconsider and reverse the sanctions waiver for Russian diesel exports. In support of this position the senators make the following arguments:
Peace must protect Ukraine. While the senators support ending the Russia-Ukraine war, the maintain that any negotiated settlement must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, democratic values, and right to determine its future.
The deal the president reached with Putin would fund Russia’s war and weaken U.S. security interests. In particular, Treasury General License No. 135, which lifts sanctions on Russian diesel exports, would give the Kremlin revenue to sustain its military campaign and attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Limited U.S. consumer benefits and increased security risks. The letter acknowledges concerns about U.S. energy costs and disruptions linked to the war with Iran but contends that permitting Russian diesel onto global markets would provide little or no reduction in American fuel prices. The senators also assert that the resulting Russian revenue could support cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea and endanger U.S. personnel involved in Operation Epic Fury.
Undermining congressional intent. The senators cite the bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, recently signed into law, as providing authority to increase economic pressure on Russia and key enablers, especially China, to strengthen U.S. leverage in peace negotiations.
Requested action. The senators call for the President to withdraw from the agreement, rescind General License No. 135, and use the new sanctions authorities to pursue what they describe as a just and durable peace.
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