Even Trump's Russian cash bagmen can't rescue Trump's drop in US approval ratings pre-MidTerm Elections (that occur Nov 3 (US Time) 2026).
The Straits Times reports October 12, 2026: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/prominent-republican-senator-says-trumps-russian-diesel-deal-may-be-illegal
"WASHINGTON - Republican and Democratic US senators called on President Donald Trump on Oct 11 to “reverse course” on his diesel supply deal with Russia, saying it runs counter to US law barring imports of energy until Russia ends its aggression against Ukraine.
“Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” the seven senators - four of Trump’s fellow Republicans and three Democrats - said in a statement.
They also said that the [Trump] administration failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation of its decision, something also required by law.
“The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course,” the statement said.
It was only the latest bipartisan criticism of Trump’s deal, a shift from his party’s near-unanimous support for Trump’s foreign policy decision weeks before Nov 3 midterm elections that will determine whether his Republicans will retain their control of Congress.
It was issued by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Tillis had said earlier on Oct 11 that the diesel deal may be illegal and would put American lives at risk."
I don't believe this would really drop oil prices in the US that much as Russia was already exporting to China and India. It'll likely just increase the price which Russia receives from its oil.
ReplyDeleteThe supply of the oil might increase if there are wells that weren't economical before this deal, but it seems like Putin will benefit from this much more than Trump. I guess Trump is hoping for the speculation to be taken out of the price in the short term?
Hi Kev at 10/22/2026 10:15 AM
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/search?q=russia+diesel+output+only+fraction+of+us+consumption&sca_esv=33009a9d8e2a24cc&sxsrf=APpeQnvgKQ51gnkWkqPntPQh9THcexBjRA%3A1792825314766&ei=4lfcapKiLtDr1e8Py43IiQQ&biw=1164&bih=544&uact=5&oq=russia+diesel+output+only+fraction+of+us+consumption&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiNHJ1c3NpYSBkaWVzZWwgb3V0cHV0IG9ubHkgZnJhY3Rpb24gb2YgdXMgY29uc3VtcHRpb24yBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBEiY7QNQjAxY-scDcAJ4AJABAJgBkgKgAdt6qgEGMC43LjYzsAEAuAEDyAEA-AEBmAI_oAKdbMICDhAAGIAEGIoFGIYDGLADwgIIEAAY7wUYsAPCAgcQIxiwAhgnwgIFEAAYgATCAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICCBAhGKABGMMEwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICChAhGAoYoAEYwwTCAggQABiJBRiiBJgDAOIDBBgAIF3iAwQYACBe4gMEGAAgX-IDBBgAIGDiAwQYACBh4gMEGAAgYogGAZAGApIHBjIuMi41OaAHubACsgcGMC4yLjU5uAeWbMIHBjEuNjAuMsgHeYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
concludes "Russia's promised diesel shipments to the United States represent only a tiny fraction of total U.S. daily consumption.
Comparison of Russian Diesel Supply vs. U.S. Consumption
• U.S. Daily Consumption: The United States consumes about 4 million barrels (or roughly 2.94 to 4 million barrels per day for transport and total distillate demand).
• Initial Russian Shipment (300,000 tons / ~2.25 million barrels): This initial volume covers less than a day's worth of total U.S. consumption (roughly 15 hours to less than a single day).
• Total Proposed Deal (~1.8 million to 3.5 million tons through late 2026): Even the expanded 1.8 million to 3.5 million tons promised under the U.S.–Russia diesel agreement amounts to just a few days of U.S. demand or a fraction of global consumption."