Bipartisan bill targets Russian diesel waiver

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced legislation on October 24 to cancel a recent Treasury Department waiver for Russian diesel imports. The bill, titled the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026, would also require intelligence agencies to notify congressional committees within 24 hours of any interruption to Ukraine's satellite communications.

The measure responds to a waiver issued on October 9 that authorized transactions involving Russian diesel fuel. President Donald Trump announced the deal following talks with Vladimir Putin, stating that Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets. The waiver is set to expire on April 7, 2027. Trump defended the arrangement as a way to expand global diesel supplies and lower prices amid supply disruptions linked to the war in Iran.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, introduced the bill. He is joined by Republican Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington. The legislation has been referred to three House committees. Fitzpatrick stated that the waiver undercuts the 2022 federal ban on Russian oil imports, asserting that the US must not import a single drop of Russian oil.

Co-sponsor Don Bacon told RFE/RL that Congress must check the president's approach to Putin. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez argued that if the administration wants lower gasoline prices, it should work to end the war in Iran rather than direct American money toward Russia.

The bill also addresses satellite access issues reported by Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said that restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield systems disrupted military operations on October 13. These limits affected drones and other platforms moving faster than 100 miles per hour. Kyiv reported on October 24 that connection speeds had been restored, though a Ukrainian official noted that no one had explained the earlier disruptions or what would happen next.

Eight lawmakers, including Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Fitzpatrick, and Mike Quigley, and Senators Mark Kelly, Thom Tillis, and Elissa Slotkin, urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to expand the Pentagon's Starshield contract. They requested adequate coverage for lawful military operations, including over Russian territory, and a smooth transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield. Senator Richard Blumenthal has demanded written answers from SpaceX founder Elon Musk by November 5 and a briefing by November 12.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that President Trump or other officials ordered or knew of the satellite restrictions. Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Peter Welch questioned Musk's claim that the military and the president decided on the limits, citing reports that Musk proposed them. Senator Tillis wrote on X that whoever is making Ukraine more vulnerable should put their name on the decision.