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{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Dems could probe Russian diesel importers Democrats and outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) are telling banks and ports that Congress may investigate imports of Russian diesel after President Trump said the U.S. would import the fuel. © Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press In letters...

Democrats and outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) are telling banks and ports that Congress may investigate imports of Russian diesel after President Trump said the U.S. would import the fuel. In letters to major banks and several U.S. port authorities, the lawmakers wrote that “any importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant...

House and Senate Democrats vowing to probe President Donald Trump’s deal to import Russian diesel to the US are asking banks and ports to preserve records related to issue, saying they anticipate further Congressional oversight.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is warning that President Trump’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine by “coddling” Russian President Vladimir Putin and limiting assistance to Kyiv is “certain to fail.” McConnell, who had been largely quiet on the issue of the war after Ukraine lost full access to the satellite-based Starshield network,...

Top Democrats poised for powerful roles next year are demanding that major banks and ports preserve any records they have tied to potential imports or other deals involving Russian diesel . Why it matters: Probing President Trump's agreement with Moscow will be a priority if Democrats regain control of either or both chambers of Congress. The new demand shows that inquiries will extend beyond the White House and into C-suites. Driving the news: "[A]ny importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and may be subject to legal action, as well as congressional investigations," a new letter obtained by Axios states. It's signed by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). They're in line to lead the powerful Foreign Relations, Banking, Finance and Judiciary Committees, respectively, if Democrats regain the Senate. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who's in line for the Foreign Affairs Committee gavel if House control changes, also signed. It's led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Foreign Relations Democrat who is not seeking reelection. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is also retiring, signed as well. State of play: The Wall Street recipients of Saturday's letter are J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The same letter went to port authorities for the ports of Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi, Texas, and New York/New Jersey. Catch up quick: Earlier this month Trump claimed an agreement to bring escalating Russian exports to global and U.S. markets, and the Treasury Department waived sanctions to help enable it. Friction point: The lawmakers and other critics say it runs afoul of a bipartisan 2022 law barring imports of Russian oil, gas, and petroleum products. "The potential arrangement to import Russian diesel also raises significant national security concerns, given that it would finance Russia's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," the letter states. Yes, but: The Treasury Department has repeatedly claimed the agreement is legal. The big picture: The new letter urges the banks and ports not to enable "purchase, transportation, importation, unloading, storage, financing, or distribution" of Russian diesel in the U.S. It also goes further, urging the parties not to facilitate any transactions for Russian diesel to other markets under the recent sanctions waiver. Zoom in: Citing "anticipation of further congressional oversight," it calls on recipients to preserve a wide range of potential records and communications related to "proposed or actual" transactions. Think contracts, shipping documents, vessel records and plenty more. The demand extends to any communications with suppliers, intermediaries and U.S. government officials. The lawmakers want confirmation by Wednesday that records are being preserved, plus details of any potential or actual Russian diesel transition. What we're watching: It's unclear how much Russian diesel, if any, will reach U.S. shores. Reports Friday in S&P Global , Reuters and elsewhere identify a tanker that initially signaled a New York destination, while the shipping intelligence firm TankerTrackers on Friday said three tankers had signaled U.S. destinations. But ships' planned destinations frequently change for one reason or another. Sign up here for Axios' Future of Energy newsletter.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state-affiliated media on Sunday that preparations are underway for a trilateral summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump's break from long-standing tradition in U.S.-Russia relations was real, but it should not have been entirely surprising.

The first Russian diesel tanker headed to New York carries 40,000 tons, but a retired general says that only covers a couple hours of U.S. demand.

Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined to discuss how Donald Trump’s dismissal of Russian aggression against Ukraine has prompted bipartisan backlash.

The United States once declared that Ukraine’s fight was the front line in a global battle for freedom. Now the Trump administration is sending money to Moscow.

President Donald Trump blames Ukraine for continuing its defensive war against Russia. He does so even as Ukraine has agreed to ceasefires proposed by Trump but rejected or broken systematically by Russia. Trump pretends that Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy network are intended to increase American gas prices rather than, as they are, to drain […]

Gen. Ben Hodges (Ret.) says restrictions on Starlink service have dealt a significant blow to Ukraine's counter-drone capabilities and disrupted an early-warning system for incoming ballistic missiles. Hodges says it is bizarre for President Donald Trump to defend Elon Musk as a "good person" who would not do anything wrong, pointing to Trump's praise of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un and comments from a Trump negotiator calling Putin a humanitarian. Hodges says he applauds first lady Melania Trump's role in helping secure relief for Ukrainian civilians, but says it represents only a small fraction of the suffering caused by Russia's war. He speaks with Joe Mathieu on Bloomberg’s "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

I joke with Russiagate diehards that their theory only explains 50% of Trump’s Russia actions.

The first lady, who is positioning herself as an intermediary between two warring nations as her husband sides with Russia, said the agreement would allow residents to evacuate.

A tanker loaded with diesel fuel set sail Friday from Russia for the United States, the first shipment since President Donald Trump agreed a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release more fuel into the global market.

The Kremlin said Friday that the first tanker carrying Russian diesel to the U.S. under the new import agreement has set sail, just two weeks after President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin finalized the deal.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe leads an agency that’s at war with Russia, even as Trump makes nice with Putin.

Economic incentives don’t persuade the Russian leader. Here’s what could.

A tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is heading towards New York, ship-tracking data showed on Friday, following an agreement reached ‌this month between Moscow and President Donald Trump.

Trump waived most new Russia sanctions from the Graham Act, drawing sharp Republican criticism over whether Vladimir Putin believes the threats.

On Thursday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s “Deadline,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said President Donald Trump “is in the thrall of” Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Host Nicolle Wallace said, “In light of Mr. Wycoff describing Vladimir Putin as a quote, humanitarian, this The post Sen. Coons: ‘Trump Is in the Thrall of Putin; He’s Putin’s Puppet’ appeared first on Breitbart .

Czech President Petr Pavel on Tuesday said President Trump's diesel deal with Russia derailed peace talks between the Kremlin and Ukraine, saying both sides were "so close" to a ceasefire. "It will be much harder now," Pavel told the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes Politico. "Russia uses this momentum to get out of...

President Donald Trump is signaling a full-on embrace of Vladimir Putin and Russia – and of big-power relations – as he faces adverse midterm results and a potential lame-duck presidency.

President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk on Wednesday to lift restrictions on Starlink satellite services in Ukraine after the SpaceX founder allegedly ordered a slowdown that hampered Ukrainian defenses against Russian attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing U.S. officials.

Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) did not raise her objections to President Donald Trump waiving bipartisan Russia sanctions named after her late brother during a campaign visit from Trump to support her election and a subsequent ride with him to Washington on Air Force One. The interim senator made the revelation to reporters Thursday after Trump […]