Bipartisan Bill Cancels 300,000-Ton Diesel Deal

A new House bill seeks to nullify a federal waiver that permits the import of 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel. The legislation also requires the US intelligence community to notify congressional committees within 24 hours if satellite communications supporting Ukraine are interrupted. The measure responds directly to recent executive actions and reported disruptions in military satellite services.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026 on Tuesday. He is joined by co-sponsors Don Bacon and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. The bill targets the Treasury Department waiver issued on October 9, which is scheduled to expire on April 7, 2027. It bars future waivers for Russian energy imports and mandates intelligence support for Ukrainian defense operations.

President Trump defended the diesel arrangement as a strategy to lower global prices. He stated that Russia agreed to supply the 300,000-ton shipment to US and global markets immediately. Diesel prices have risen recently due to supply disruptions linked to the conflict in Iran. The bill's sponsors argue the waiver contradicts the 2022 federal ban on Russian oil imports.

Fitzpatrick stated that the US must not import a single drop of Russian oil. Bacon described the waiver as an egregious form of appeasement toward Vladimir Putin. Gluesenkamp Perez suggested that ending the war in Iran would be a more effective method for lowering gasoline prices than directing funds to Russia.

Separate concerns have emerged regarding satellite access. Eight lawmakers, including Marcy Kaptur and Mark Kelly, wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They urged the Pentagon to expand its Starshield contract and guarantee uninterrupted service for Ukrainian military operations. The group requested a smooth transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield.

Ukrainian officials reported that restrictions imposed on October 13 disrupted communications for drones moving faster than 100 miles per hour. This hindered the guidance of defensive systems. A Ukrainian official told RFE/RL that SpaceX had not explained the earlier limits. The official noted that no one has clarified what will happen next. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the limits persisted despite claims that service had been restored.

Democratic lawmakers are seeking formal answers. Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Peter Welch questioned Elon Musk's claim that the military ordered the restrictions. Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded written answers from Musk by November 5 and a briefing by November 12. Representatives Sam Liccardo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta asked White House chief of staff Susie Wiles for a government-wide investigation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that President Trump or other officials ordered the restrictions. Senator Thom Tillis wrote on X that whoever is handing Putin the gift of a more vulnerable Ukraine should have the guts to put their name on it. The bill has been sent to three House committees for review.