Leader Schumer, Senators Shaheen, Warren Slam President Trump’s Disastrous Diesel ‘Deal’ With Putin

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the below statement condemning President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel fuel sales globally through General License 135.

"President Trump's announcement that the United States will allow global purchases of Russian diesel for six months is a total betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies, and American national security. After launching a war with Iran that has spiked gas and diesel prices for every American, the President is resorting to desperate 'deals' with a murderous dictator to attempt to clean up his own mess. Americans and our European allies have faced enormous fuel cost hikes due to the President's war with Iran, and instead of working with them to lower costs, this Administration has turned to their chief security threat-selling out Ukraine and our allies in a desperate attempt to save Trump's political prospects.

"This is what failure looks like. Failure for President Trump to live up to his promises to lower costs for Americans. Failure to protect America from its adversaries. Failure to follow the law and the bipartisan will of Congress that only weeks ago passed legislation aimed at cutting off revenue for Russia's war machine and curbing purchases of Russian oil and gas.

"Enough is enough. The President must end his war with Iran instead of funding Russia's war machine. Putin only responds to strength, which means cracking down on Russia and the enablers of its war against Ukraine."

###