Deal on Russian diesel: senators from both parties say it violates the law. Brussels tightened sanctions a day later

A group of American senators from both parties called on Donald Trump on Sunday to rescind the deal on Russian diesel that he announced on Friday following a phone call with Vladimir Putin. They claim the deal violates a 2022 law that bans the import of Russian energy. PBS NewsHour ↗ Europe is responding in two ways: Brussels expanded its sanctions list on Monday to include almost 1,600 people and companies ORF ↗, while Latvia's foreign minister reminded that before criticizing others, the EU should look in the mirror. Kyiv Independent ↗

What Trump announced and what of it is verified

On Friday, October 9, Trump wrote on social media that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, another 500,000 in November, then a million tons, and later a further three million. PBS NewsHour ↗

The only legal change that sources document is General License No. 135 from the US Treasury Department. It permits selected transactions involving diesel of Russian origin until April 7, 2027, and is not a blanket lifting of sanctions. Protothema ↗ The figures therefore come from Trump's post. We did not find the text of a bilateral agreement.

The motive is domestic. Since the outbreak of war with Iran in February, diesel prices have risen sharply, and Tehran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Republicans, meanwhile, are approaching the November 3 elections, and according to an Economist/YouGov poll from October 2–5, cited by L'Express, 65% of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy. L'Express ↗ According to the Moscow Times, analysts doubt that the supplies will sustainably lower prices, since the agreed volumes are far below Russia's usual exports from before its refineries came under attack. The Moscow Times ↗

The law Congress is invoking

According to AP, six senators signed the appeal: Republicans Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and John Curtis, and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal. "The administration must immediately reverse course," they write. According to them, Congress banned the import of Russian energy in 2022 precisely so that American dollars would not finance Putin's war. Kurier ↗ Later reports by Kurier and L'Express name a seventh signatory, Democrat Ron Wyden. We were unable to resolve the discrepancy in the number, so we do not use a figure in the headline.

The most detailed breakdown of the legal framework is provided by the French outlet L'Express. The law allows the president to lift the ban only under strict conditions. He must confirm to Congress that Russia has agreed to a withdrawal of troops and an end to fighting, approved by Kyiv. He must consult the relevant committees and submit a report with justification. Congress then has 90 days to object. Senators claim none of this has happened. L'Express ↗ Tillis told NBC that it is a "legitimate argument" that the president is not complying with the law. PBS NewsHour ↗

The White House is not backing down. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Fox News that the administration will use "all lawful authorities" and that critics are "wrong." L'Express ↗ Republican Senator John Barrasso, who defends Trump, nevertheless also called for enforcement of the recently passed sanctions law. According to Axios, the House will not vote before the elections, although Representative Brian Fitzpatrick plans to challenge the deal with a petition. Axios ↗

Ukraine: a ceasefire no one confirmed, and the threat of weapons

On Sunday, Trump wrote that an ENERGY CEASEFIRE was "in effect immediately" and that "both sides agreed." Zelenskyy said it was news to him. Ukraine is willing to halt attacks on Russian refineries only if Moscow stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. A power plant near Kharkiv was attacked that very evening. Al Jazeera ↗ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had nothing to say yet about Trump's statement. STVR ↗ Our overview of the first hours after the announcement is in the article Russia attacked an energy facility after Trump announced a ceasefire.

Kyiv Independent, citing the Financial Times, writes that the US signaled to Kyiv and European capitals that it would suspend the PURL mechanism, through which Europe finances purchases of American weapons for Ukraine, as well as intelligence sharing, if attacks on Russian energy targets do not begin to subside. The report rests on unnamed European officials, and the White House has neither confirmed nor denied it. Kyiv Independent ↗ Telegraph commentator Con Coughlin summed it up bluntly: "Ordinary Ukrainians will pay for cheaper diesel on world markets with their lives." This is an opinion, not a news report. Kyiv Post ↗

Europe: tightening sanctions, but also questioning itself

EU ministers in Luxembourg approved almost 1,600 newly sanctioned individuals and companies. ORF ↗ EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the same time: "We welcome the energy ceasefire, if it holds. So far, however, we have not seen Russia observing it either." She noted that the ceasefire must cover more than just refineries, since "Ukraine has one and Russia has many." Aktuality.sk (TASR/AFP) ↗ We write about the sanctions package itself here.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, at the same meeting, responded to a question about the American deal by saying that "before we criticize others, we should hold up a mirror to the EU itself." She was referring to the decision of September 21, by which the Union removed two major Russian oligarchs from the sanctions list. Kyiv Independent ↗

The sharpest reaction among allies came from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In a phone call with Zelenskyy, according to his office, he said the deal "stands in direct contradiction to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada, and our allies" and will provide Russia with revenue to finance the war. Kurier ↗ On the same day, he thanked Trump for the ceasefire. The Globe and Mail ↗ A Slovak headline about his call captured only the second half: "Carney supported the energy ceasefire." TASR ↗

Limits of this view

Kurier and L'Express rely on the same underlying sources, mainly the senators' letter and wire reports, so this does not constitute two independent verifications. L'Express is a liberal-centrist, pro-European magazine, and Kurier signed its piece as a wire report. Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post are media of a country that is a party to the war. We do not have the report on the weapons threat firsthand; it rests on anonymous sources. We also lack the Russian perspective, as Moscow has not yet publicly commented on either the deal or the ceasefire. And we do not know whether Russia, whose refineries have been damaged by Ukrainian strikes, can even deliver the promised volumes.

What hotinfo is watching