Trump’s plans to buy diesel from Russia are drawing increasing criticism.

As the Iran War continues to affect world energy costs, US President Donald Trump is coming under increasing criticism for his intentions to acquire diesel from Russia. On Friday, Trump declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin had consented to transfer 300,000 tons of diesel “to the American and world marketplace” right away, along with a number of additional shipments.

This is true even though only a few weeks ago the US signed legislation authorising new taxes and restrictions on countries that buy Russian gas and oil. Some Republican and Democratic senators have criticised the action, claiming it is illegal in the United States.

Trump stated that Russia would provide 500,000 tons of diesel in November and one million more following the initial release of 300,000 tons. Three million more tons would then be delivered “within a short period” based on the state of its refineries, which Ukraine has assaulted during the current conflict between the two nations. Alexander Novak, the deputy prime minister of Russia, verified these figures to Tass, the nation’s state-run news agency, stating that the export volume would eventually rise to three million tons per month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the deal a gift to Putin that amounts to “an investment in a war that must be ended”. It is understood the US Treasury is suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7 as part of the deal, but other assets, such as those in American banks, remain frozen.

A group of seven senators—four Republicans and three Democrats—on Sunday said the deal violated US laws, urging Trump to “reverse course”. “The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians,” the lawmakers said.

They added that Congress had “explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine”.

Republicans Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis and John Curtis signed the statement, along with Democrats Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen. Not everyone is against the agreement. Republican Thomas Massie, who has sparred with Trump on several subjects, said the US should remove restrictions on all petroleum products. Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, told Fox News that anyone in Congress who said the deal would not work would be mistaken and that the US would use its current legal procedures to help bring prices down.

Since the US-Israel war with Iran started at the end of February, the world’s fuel prices have skyrocketed due to the fighting’s significant disruption of crude oil supply, a crucial component of gasoline and diesel. Current diesel prices are $6.28 per gallon, down from a high of $6.53. Analysts doubt Russia’s ability to meet its diesel supply promises, which would cover only half of US daily consumption.