Trump team defends Russia energy moves but offers contradictory reasons
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (left), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center) and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Photos: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images; Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
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 Russian energy that would have taken effect under the bipartisan Graham Act he signed last month.
- That came just days after the administration waived certain sanctions as part of a deal aimed at enabling higher exports of Russian diesel after high prices have become a political millstone for Republicans.
Driving the news: Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that Russia could only benefit from the diesel deal if it scales back its war on Ukraine enough to increase exports.
- "This is a carrot to try to end a war. It's not an economic lifeline for Russia," he said.
- Yet Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a different explanation Saturday, saying Russia would have sold the diesel regardless of Trump's intervention.
- "That diesel was going to be sold one way or the other," Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, per a State Department transcript.
The diesel deal "is an incentive to Russia, that if they can reduce the conflict with Ukraine, they can get an energy ceasefire or reduce the conflict such that they have diesel to export, we'll allow it to flow to world markets," Wright told ABC's "This Week."
Context: Ukranian drone strikes against Russian refineries have dramatically hindered Russia's diesel exports.
- Ukraine resumed those strikes after Russia continued to hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure, despite Trump's claim that the two sides had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
- The combination of the Iran war — which has throttled supply and damaged Middle East refineries — and Russia's export decline have pushed up diesel costs.
Zoom out: The Sunday shows and Rubio's remarks provided the Trump team's most detailed comments on Friday night's executive order, which declines to use new powers under the law named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
- The move avoids putting fresh pressure on China and India, both major buyers of Russian oil.
- Rubio said Trump wants time to "analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the U.S. economy."
Wright pointed to ongoing negotiations with China on trade and the war in Ukraine, stressing to CNN that Trump retains the power to impose the penalties later.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on NBC's "Meet the Press," defended the recent decisions by pointing to sanctions the administration imposed on Russian oil and gas giants Rosneft and Lukoil in 2025.
- "No one has been tougher on Russian sanctions than President Trump," he said.
The other side: A number of Republicans have criticized the White House.
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called the sanctions waiver "beyond irresponsible," while Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said the late Lindsey Graham "would be appalled."
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called the waiver a "mistake," and Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) said the U.S. should be increasing pressure on Russia and requested a classified briefing on the decision.
What we're watching: As the midterms hit their final frenzied weeks, Republicans have shown an increasing willingness to put distance between themselves and Trump.
