Trump's diesel waiver seen as short-term political stunt amid Russia-Ukraine war
President Trump announced a temporary suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel, framing it as an "energy ceasefire" while critics argue it serves his domestic political agenda.
In the closing debate of the Kansas Senate contest, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall asserted that the war in Ukraine, rather than the United States’ conflict with Iran, is the primary cause of soaring diesel prices that threaten his party’s chances in the upcoming midterms. He entertained the notion of importing Russian diesel to bring Russia to the negotiating table, though he admitted the plan sounded unappealing. Democratic opponent Adam Hamilton, who leads the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation, sharply rejected Marshall’s stance, saying “nobody believes” Ukraine is to blame and accusing the senator of betraying Ukraine.
Hamilton tied high fuel costs to the unnecessary war with Iran and called for a temporary halt to federal fuel taxes while that conflict continues. The debate also touched on the Green New Deal, with Marshall linking Hamilton to its critics and Hamilton acknowledging support for some elements but not the full package. Diesel prices, averaging $6.32 per gallon this week versus $3.62 a year earlier, remain a critical issue for Kansas’s farming sector.
How this story developed
- Oct 17 The House Foreign Affairs Committee posted legislation to block financing for Russian oil projects and tighten sanctions.
- Oct 17 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced encouragement to continue attacks, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal accused Trump of “flattering Vladimir Putin”, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the decision.
- Oct 17 The executive order states the waiver will remain in effect until the president or senior officials determine further action.
- Oct 18 Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale attack on St. Petersburg early on Oct. 18, triggering multiple explosions and fires across the city.
- Oct 18 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration will study the impact of the suspension on the global economy.
- Oct 18 Authorities confirmed one fatality and five injuries resulting from the St. Petersburg raid.
- Oct 19 Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said a three-way meeting of Putin, Trump and Xi on Ukraine is being discussed for the APEC summit in China.
- Oct 19 Trump publicly affirmed his openness to a trilateral meeting focused on nuclear issues.
- Oct 20 Putin suggested holding the talks at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on Nov 18‑19.
- Oct 21 A Russian oil tanker carrying diesel is scheduled to depart for the United States on Thursday, following an agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
- Oct 21 During a meeting in Russia, Steve Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian, prompting condemnation from across the U.S. political spectrum.
- Oct 21 The meeting sparked immediate criticism from U.S. political figures.
- Oct 23 The tanker Agioi Fanendes has set sail for the United States.
Related stories
12 in this thread