Reject the Diesel Deal with Russia

Dear [Your Elected Official],

The administration says Russian diesel will bring relief at the pump. The numbers say otherwise. The United States already produces more diesel than it consumes. Russia’s proposed initial shipment of 300,000 metric tons, even if every drop came here, would cover less than 15 hours of American consumption. This is a false promise to truckers, ranchers, and farmers, and it offers families no protection from inflation.
What the deal does accomplish is helping Moscow. American sanctions force Russia to sell oil at a deep discount to sanction evaders who risk getting caught. Lifting those sanctions and buying Russian fuel ourselves wipes out that discount, even if no Russian diesel ever reaches our shores. The announcement alone rescues Russia’s struggling wartime economy and sends American money to the war machine that is terrorizing Ukrainians, abducting their children, and hunting civilians in the streets of Kherson.
The deal is also illegal. The Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (Public Law 117-109) bans Russian energy imports until Russia withdraws its invasion force and ceases hostilities on terms acceptable to Ukraine, followed by a 90-day congressional review. The accompanying sanctions waiver defies the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, passed only weeks ago.
Nor should Ukraine be blamed for high prices. The fuel crisis began with the war on Iran, not with Ukraine’s refinery strikes, which began more than a year ago. Russia, meanwhile, is helping Iran target American forces. If the administration is concerned about Russia’s refineries, it should urge Moscow to accept Ukraine’s offer of an energy ceasefire.
I ask you to demand the immediate withdrawal of General License 135, enforce Public Law 117-109 through congressional oversight, and insist that Ukraine not be pressured into halting strikes on Russian energy infrastructure without a reciprocal, verifiable commitment from Moscow.
Putin respects strength, not concessions. Zelenskyy was right to call this move “weak.”

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Hello, my name is [Name], and I'm a constituent from [ZIP code].

I'm calling to urge [Senator/Representative] to oppose the deal to import Russian diesel.

America already produces more diesel than it consumes. This deal won't meaningfully lower fuel prices, but it will reward Putin and help fund Russia's war machine while Moscow continues bombing Ukrainian civilians and abducting children.

Congress already banned Russian energy imports. This deal undermines American sanctions and lets Putin off the hook while Ukraine is being cynically and incorrectly blamed for high fuel prices.

Please speak up, demand the withdrawal of OFAC General License 135, enforce the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (which is Public Law 117-109), and oppose pressuring Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries without a reciprocal energy ceasefire.

Thank you.