US House bill seeks to block Russian diesel deal

A bipartisan bill introduced in the US House of Representatives on Friday, October 16, seeks to annul a Treasury Department license permitting purchases of Russian diesel fuel. The legislation, titled the "Ban Corrupt Oil Deals with Russia Act," targets the agreement between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The bill, co-authored by 16 Democrats and one Republican, Don Bacon, would block investments by the US International Development Finance Corporation in Russian energy, revoke the current OFAC general license, and mandate sanctions on Russia's energy sector. Congressman Gregory Meeks stated the deal would give Putin millions to continue attacks on Ukrainian civilians. President Trump announced the diesel agreement on October 9 following a phone call with Putin, detailing shipments of over 300,000 tons immediately, with additional volumes planned through December. The Treasury license suspends sanctions on Russian diesel until April 2027, and Russian media reported the first shipment departed St. Petersburg for the US East Coast on October 12.