U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Bipartisan backlash over the deal is growing, with more Republicans speaking out against President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily allow Vladimir Putin’s Russia to export diesel fuel to global markets.
Six Republican senators joined their six Democratic colleagues on Tuesday to release a letter calling on President Trump to withdraw from the deal that allows Russia to supply 4.8 million tons (about 36 million barrels) of diesel until mid-April.
“This agreement is a gift to our adversaries and a betrayal of our allies. It must be withdrawn,” the lawmakers wrote.
Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and John Cornyn of Texas signed on, joining a list of Republicans in Congress who had previously questioned the deal announced by President Trump on Friday. Mr. Armstrong has roots in the energy industry. williams companiesthe largest natural gas specialist company in the United States
They were joined by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Chris Coons of Delaware, and Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the letter.
Mr. Collins, Mr. Murkowski and Mr. Tillis have already spoken and joined Democrats in a statement on Sunday, calling on President Trump “not to provide President Putin with an economic lifeline as Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians.”
Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah also joined in the statement.
President Trump announced the diesel deal with Russia after a phone conversation with President Putin. The announcement immediately drew an unusually critical response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is counting on continued U.S. support for his military. In response, President Trump criticized Zelenskiy, saying that Ukraine should have a new president.
In his Friday announcement, President Trump claimed the deal would help bring record-high diesel prices down quickly and significantly. But oil analysts believe Russian supplies are not large enough to have a significant impact on prices.
The 12 senators who signed the letter to Trump on Tuesday agreed, writing that the deal “serves no legitimate purpose and is not in the interest of the American people.”
“Allowing Russian diesel to enter global markets will provide limited or no relief to Americans,” the senators told President Trump.
“Although the impact on fuel prices will be negligible, the revenue the Kremlin receives from this deal will undoubtedly fund its desired war of attrition and advance security cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea,” they wrote.
The senators, like other critics, also argued that the diesel deal contradicts the bipartisan Russia Sanctions Act, which requires the lifting of existing sanctions against Russia, which President Trump signed weeks before the deal was announced.
“The authorities seek to apply economic pressure on Russia and China, a key driver of the war, and thereby strengthen their negotiating position in order to quickly end this devastating conflict,” the letter said.
“Putin is a tyrant. Withdraw from this agreement, revoke General Permit 135, and enforce his powers under the Lindsay O. Graham v. Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026,” they wrote.
“Uphold our heritage and America’s obligations as the leader of the free world.”
President Trump further reinforced his decision. “I made the right choice for the American people, always America first!” he wrote on Monday’s Truth Social.
