U.S. President Donald Trump defended his decision to temporarily lift restrictions on Russian diesel exports last week on Monday. Previously, this announcement sparked criticism from both parties.
Trump posted on Truth Social accusing the media of hypocrisy, claiming that they allegedly refused to report on the EU's past purchases of Russian energy.
"The EU paid $250 billion to Russia for energy, and the fake news media doesn't want to touch on this story," Trump wrote.
Although the president did not specify what he meant, this figure roughly corresponds to some estimates of the EU's expenditure on importing Russian fossil fuels since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The European Commission has launched a plan to gradually reduce dependence on Russian energy.
In this social media post, Trump wrote: "I made the right choice for the American people – always, America First!"
Members from both parties expressed concern over Trump's decision to allow Russia to supply diesel to the United States and global markets in the coming six months.
This plan has encountered opposition from several Republican members of Congress, who urge Trump not to lift the ban on U.S. imports of Russian energy until Russian President Vladimir Putin ends the war against Ukraine.
"As Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians, the United States should not provide a lifeline of funding for Putin," seven senators, including four Republicans, said in a joint statement on Sunday.
Other Republicans have also raised questions about this arrangement by Trump.
“I understand the desire to lower diesel prices, but I worry that lifting sanctions on Russian oil will only provide funding for the Kremlin’s war machine – as we have seen in recent days, this will encourage more violence and destruction,” said Michael McCaul, a Republican congressman from Texas, on Friday.
Trump's party is facing potentially tough midterms, which coincide with widespread economic dissatisfaction. Trump claims that the plan he coordinated with Putin will help to lower high diesel prices. However, some analysts suggest that this policy may not have a significant impact.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that the United States' relaxation of sanctions against Moscow "is exactly what Russia wants."
