Republican reps Fitzpatrick and Bacon draft bill to block Trump’s Russian diesel deal

Trump’s diesel deal with Russia

President Donald Trump announced a temporary authorization for Russian diesel exports, covering 300,000 tonnes for October and 500,000 tonnes for November – roughly a day's worth of U.S. diesel consumption, according to Senator Angus King. The move reverses previous sanctions that barred such imports and has drawn criticism from both parties and allied governments.

Republican response

Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R‑PA) and Don Bacon (R‑NE) are spearheading a legislative counter‑measure. Fitzpatrick, co‑chair of the House Ukraine Caucus, said on X that he will introduce the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act and push it to the House floor through a discharge petition that requires 218 signatures.

"We will be introducing bipartisan legislation to block any and all purchases of Russian oil," Fitzpatrick wrote.

Don Bacon has agreed to co‑sponsor the bill; a Democratic sponsor has not yet been named. Fitzpatrick describes the proposal as "bipartisan" in his announcement.

Legislative path and obstacles

A discharge petition can bypass committee chairs and leadership, but the House will not be back in session for several weeks, and the 118th Congress ends in January. Even if the petition succeeds, the measure must clear the Senate and survive a White House veto.

Republican Michael McCaul (R‑TX) warned that easing restrictions could "fund the Kremlin's war machine," citing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act – a law Trump signed in September that allows up to a 100 % tariff on major purchasers of Russian energy.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK) urged Trump to use those tariff authorities instead of permitting diesel sales.

Democrats are also mobilising. Former Representative Tom Malinowski, a former State Department official, urged Senate and House leaders to invoke the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022, which requires a presidential certification that Russia has met specific conditions before any oil can be imported.

International and advocacy backlash

Ukrainian advocacy groups see the diesel deal as a betrayal of sanctions. Daniel Balson, advocacy director at Razom for Ukraine, said the decision “undermines the purpose of the sanctions legislation passed weeks earlier.”

European officials echoed the concern. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't," ahead of a new EU sanctions package slated for October 12. German officials also reaffirmed their commitment to existing sanctions.

What happens next?

The discharge petition must gather the required 218 signatures before the House can vote. With the session break approaching and the term ending in January, timing is tight. Even a successful House vote would still need Senate approval and could be vetoed by the president, who remains adamant about the diesel arrangement.

If the bill passes, it would re‑impose a ban on Russian diesel imports, effectively overturning the president’s temporary waiver and re‑activating the sanctions framework that Congress and many allies say is essential to pressure Moscow and support Ukraine.