President Trump’s announcement of a deal with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to import Russian diesel has drawn criticism from some Republicans running in the most competitive midterm races, as the party grasps for ways to contain soaring energy prices. The president announced the arrangement, which undercuts U.S. sanctions on Moscow, under pressure to rein in the surging price of diesel.
The product’s cost has climbed because of the war with Iran, which has clogged a vital oil-shipping corridor, and high energy prices have become a severe campaign liability for Republican candidates in the midterms. But the campaigns of two Republicans running in pivotal Senate races — former Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan and Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska — expressed disapproval of the deal with Russia. And other Republicans running in competitive Senate and House races had little to say about the agreement, which Mr.
Trump trumpeted Friday on social media as a “very big and important” deal, claiming it would swiftly bring down energy costs. Bacon predicted the deal would have little effect on soaring diesel prices but would offer a victory for one of America’s adversaries. And the congressman said that the agreement would not help Republican candidates.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The deal received some Republican praise. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican running in a competitive race, wrote on social media that it would “massively benefit the American people.” The United States introduced sanctions on energy exports from Russia after the country started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump’s deal, and his declaration Saturday that Ukraine should “get a new president,” escalated U.S. tensions with Kyiv. The issue of U.S. support for the country has for years divided Republicans; the two Republican Senate candidates who questioned the deal have long been supporters of Ukraine. Some Midwestern Republicans have called for a pause on diesel exports to try to lower costs for American consumers, a notion that Mr.
Energy experts say the deal is not likely to have a major impact on the cost of diesel, which has spiked to around $6.28 a gallon, according to the AAA motor club, up from $3.67 a year ago. Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, an energy consulting firm in Houston, said the deal would introduce a “very small” amount of diesel into the market “compared to U.S. demand.” In Michigan, Mr. Rogers, who has recently sought distance from Mr.
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