Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Void 300,000-Ton Russian Diesel Waiver

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced legislation on October 24 to cancel a recent Treasury Department waiver for Russian diesel imports. The bill, titled the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026, aims to void the October 9 authorization that permitted transactions involving Russian fuel. The measure also seeks to bar future waivers for Russian energy imports and requires intelligence agencies to notify congressional committees within 24 hours of any interruption to Ukraine's defense support.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, introduced the bill. He is joined by co-sponsors Republican Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington. The legislation has been referred to three House committees. The waiver it targets is currently set to expire on April 7, 2027.

The legislative push follows President Donald Trump's decision to ease limits on Russian energy imports. Trump announced the arrangement after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Russia agreed to provide more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets. The administration defended the move as a way to expand global diesel supplies and lower prices, a strategy cited against the backdrop of rising fuel costs linked to the war in Iran.

Sponsors argue the waiver contradicts a 2022 federal ban on Russian oil imports. Fitzpatrick stated, "We must not import a single drop of Russian oil." Bacon characterized the executive action as "egregious appeasement to Putin," while Gluesenkamp Perez suggested the administration should end the war in Iran to lower gasoline prices rather than increase imports from Russia.

The group also addressed disruptions in satellite communications for Ukraine. Eight lawmakers, including Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Fitzpatrick, and Mike Quigley, along with Senators Mark Kelly, Thom Tillis, and Elissa Slotkin, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They urged the Pentagon to expand its Starshield contract to guarantee uninterrupted service for Ukrainian military operations. The letter requested restored speeds and adequate coverage, including over Russian territory, and proposed using the Defense Production Act to prevent service decisions from resting solely with private providers.

Ukrainian officials reported that restrictions introduced on October 13 disrupted communications for drones moving faster than 100 miles per hour. These disruptions hindered the guidance of defensive drones. Ukrainian officials said satellite connection speeds were restored on October 24, though the source of the initial limits remains unclear. A Ukrainian official told RFE/RL that SpaceX had not explained the earlier limits or what would happen next.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the limits persisted despite claims by Trump that service had been restored after contact with Elon Musk. Several Democrats are seeking answers regarding the origin of the restrictions. Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Peter Welch questioned Musk's assertion that the military and the president decided on the limits, citing reports that Musk proposed them. Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded written answers from Musk by November 5 and a SpaceX briefing by November 12.

Representatives Sam Liccardo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta requested a government-wide investigation from White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Trump or other officials ordered or knew of the restrictions. Senator Thom Tillis wrote on social media that whoever is handing Putin a more vulnerable Ukraine should put their name on it.