Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is warning that President Donald Trump’s effort to accommodate Russian President Vladimir Putin may extend the conflict with Ukraine. He also questioned if the deal with Putin would lower diesel prices.
McConnell wrote in a Sunday opinion article in the Wall Street Journal that Trump’s attempts to end the war by “coddling” Putin and restricting assistance to Kyiv are “certain to fail.”
The Kentucky Republican, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, specifically criticized Trump’s agreement to import hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel into the U.S.
McConnell said the proposed supply would do “little” to lower prices.
He also disputed Trump’s claim that Russia “has been fine on Ukraine” after reported energy ceasefire violations. “This is factually wrong, strategically naive and morally bankrupt,” McConnell wrote.
McConnell warned that withholding U.S. security and intelligence assistance, as well as access to crucial satellite communications, would not materially weaken Ukraine’s resolve to defend itself but could give Putin battlefield gains previously out of reach. “This could prolong the war, not shorten it,” he stated.
Russian Diesel Deal Faces Price and Legal Risks
The criticism comes as the first Russian diesel shipment to the U.S. since 2022 was sent under the Trump-Putin agreement. The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 metric tons on Thursday. Shipping data cited by Reuters indicated the tanker was expected to reach New York on Nov. 7. The administration is pursuing the imports as it seeks to ease fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections.
Bank of America commodity strategist Francisco Blanch expects Russian diesel imports to have only a marginal impact on prices due to domestic supply shortages in Russia. He views any decline in distillate prices as a buying opportunity.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average diesel price on Monday was $6.3521 per gallon, up $0.032 from the previous week’s average.
Meanwhile, the arrangement has triggered legal warnings. On Monday, Rep. Jamie Raskin cautioned U.S. oil companies that participating could expose them to criminal and civil liability despite sanctions relief, writing, “Your members are now on notice.” Raskin called participation a “clear and dangerous violation of federal law” and said companies “will undoubtedly be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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