Oregon Sen. Wyden takes aim at President Trump over diesel deal, says “he’s rewarding Putin with a windfall agreement that won’t even lower prices”

Oregon – Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden criticized President Donald Trump’s agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply diesel to U.S. and global markets, arguing that the administration’s war with Iran has driven up fuel prices and that the deal with Moscow will not provide the promised relief.

“So let me get this straight: Trump started a war with Iran that drove up diesel prices. NOW he’s rewarding Putin with a windfall agreement that won’t even lower prices,” Wyden said, reacting to a CNBC report about the agreement.

The Democratic senator’s criticism came after Trump announced that Russia would begin supplying diesel to international markets, including the United States, as his administration looks for ways to address a sharp increase in fuel costs.

According to the Washington Post, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel, with additional shipments planned for November and the following months. The announcement followed a phone conversation with Putin and represented a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Russian energy exports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump said the additional supplies would help bring diesel prices down, particularly for American farmers, ranchers and truckers. However, the agreement drew criticism from lawmakers and Ukrainian officials who argued that easing restrictions on Russian fuel could provide Moscow with additional revenue while its war against Ukraine continues.

Photo Courtesy – Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) via X | Video PrtScr – https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1965947311718269341/video/1

The deal also prompted questions about whether the additional fuel would meaningfully reduce prices for American consumers. Reuters reported on Oct. 9 that the national average price of diesel had reached $6.28 per gallon, approximately 70% higher than before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began. Prices had reached a record $6.52 per gallon on Sept. 22, according to the report.

Reuters reported that the administration had already pursued other measures to ease fuel costs, including efforts to coordinate an emergency release of oil reserves and temporarily allowing the use of tax-exempt, red-dyed diesel on public roads. Those measures had not substantially reduced prices, with analysts pointing to tight global supplies and disruptions to fuel production and distribution as major factors behind the increases.

The Trump-Putin agreement also involved a change in the enforcement of sanctions on Russian fuel. The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Treasury Department issued a temporary six-month license allowing certain Russian diesel shipments to reach the global market without being subject to the relevant U.S. sanctions. The move came after the administration had imposed restrictions intended to limit Russia’s energy revenues following its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized the decision, warning that allowing Russia to earn more from energy exports could help sustain its war effort. The agreement was announced as U.S. envoys were meeting Ukrainian officials in Miami for discussions related to ending the conflict.

The Associated Press noted that the actual effect on prices remained uncertain. Analysts questioned whether the proposed shipments would significantly increase the amount of diesel available globally, particularly given the scale of the supply disruptions affecting international fuel markets. Russia had also faced difficulties maintaining its own diesel supplies following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Wyden’s post focused on the contrast between the administration’s stated goal of lowering fuel prices and its decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel. His criticism reflects a broader dispute over whether the agreement will provide meaningful relief for American drivers and businesses or primarily benefit Russia financially.

The agreement’s ultimate impact will depend on whether the promised shipments arrive as planned and how much additional fuel they contribute to the global market. Although Trump has presented the deal as a way to reduce diesel prices, reports from Reuters and the Associated Press indicate that significant uncertainty remains over whether the additional supply will be enough to reverse the recent price increases.