Mike Pence group urges Trump to reverse Russia diesel plan

Advancing American Freedom, a conservative think tank founded by former Vice President Pence, is calling on the Trump administration not to allow Russia to ship unsanctioned diesel to the U.S., according to a letter obtained by The Hill. The GOP group joins some Senate Republicans and others who have pushed back on the diesel deal.

“The way to cheaper diesel is more American drilling and refining,” the authors wrote. “Paying [Russian President Vladimir] Putin blood money for fuel America already exports is wrong, illegal and stupid.”

The authors, including Richard Stern, argue that importing Russian oil would not actually help global oil markets but instead would give Russia the economic backing for its war with Ukraine. They also lay out how laws passed by Congress bar Russia from selling any diesel to the U.S.

Trump announced last week that Russia would ship diesel to the U.S., and the administration suspended sanctions on that diesel through next year, in an effort to bring down high diesel and fuel costs in the U.S. The economic effects of those prices are threatening Republicans’ midterm odds.

But the solution, many Republicans say, is not turning to Putin.

Trump’s occasional openness to negotiating with Putin has come under fire from some Republicans in his coalition, especially those who are strong backers of Ukraine. When Trump signaled interest last month in inviting Putin to the Group of 20 summit in Miami, several Senate Republicans joined Democrats in criticizing the move.