Wright Defends Waiving Sanctions: ‘It’s Not an Economic Lifeline for Russia’
Chris Wright said the waiver gives Russia an incentive to scale back its war in Ukraine while easing a diesel shortage that could last into 2027.
- Late Friday, President Donald Trump waived new sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, enabling Russian diesel exports to America and global markets following an agreement with President Vladimir Putin to supply over 300,000 tons of fuel.
- High diesel prices have become a political burden for Republicans as the Iran war throttles Middle East supply; Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the waiver incentivizes Russia to reduce its Ukraine conflict to gain export access.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Saturday that the diesel would reach markets regardless of the waiver, while Wright added Sunday that the deal provides an "incentive to end the war," not "an economic lifeline for Russia."
- Republican lawmakers Sen. Thom Tillis and Ted Cruz criticized the waiver as "beyond irresponsible," while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it "seems wrong," though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's existing sanctions on Russian energy giants.
- The International Energy Agency warns diesel shortages could persist into 2027, compounding challenges as midterms approach; the combination of the Iran war and Russia's export decline has pushed up diesel costs amid geopolitical tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
23 Articles
23 Articles
US Energy Minister Chris Wright said that the decision to export Russian diesel fuel will necessarily push Russia to lead the war against Ukraine. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky said that in the week after the announcement of the energy truce, Russia attacked the energy and non-gas sectors of Ukraine 76 times. Wright's statement is transmitted to Axios. “This is an incentive for Russia: if it can reduce the intensity of the conflict with…
According to Energy Minister Chris Wright, this step should "pull Moscow to the end of the war."
Wright calls Trump's diesel deal a peace incentive. Rubio says Russia would sell anyway.
President Trump's top aides offered sharply different explanations this weekend of his Russian diesel deal amid a barrage of bipartisan criticism calling the move a gift to Russia.Why it matters: Oil, gas and petroleum products help finance Russia's war on Ukraine, and Trump's moves are bringing rifts within the GOP just ahead of midterm elections.Catch up quick: Late Friday, Trump waived new sanctions against Russia and tariffs on top buyers of…
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