Washington, Oct 14:
US President Donald Trump has defended an arrangement allowing Russian diesel supplies to reach international markets, saying the fuel is intended to ease global price pressures and will not be supplied to the United States. The announcement comes amid rising diesel prices linked to supply disruptions caused by the Iran war.
Trump said on October 9 that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes immediately thereafter. To facilitate the shipments, the US Treasury Department issued a temporary licence easing sanctions on Russian diesel exports to global markets until April 7, 2027.
The decision has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, despite the administrationâs stated aim of stabilising fuel prices. A bipartisan group of US senators wrote to Trump on Tuesday, describing the arrangement as a benefit to Russia and urging him to withdraw it.
The senators argued that allowing Russian diesel into global markets would provide limited relief to consumers while generating revenue for Moscow amid its war in Ukraine. They also said the move could weaken Washingtonâs economic pressure on Russia, coming weeks after Congress approved legislation authorising sweeping sanctions against Moscow and tariffs on key trading partners, including China and India.
The debate comes ahead of the November congressional midterm elections, with energy prices remaining a concern for American households and businesses. Trump maintained that the diesel was being released into the global market rather than being supplied directly to the US, arguing that the move was intended to address shortages and high prices in international markets.