Bipartisan Bill Targets 300,000-Ton Russian Diesel Deal and Satellite Gaps

A new legislative effort has emerged to counter recent executive actions that expanded Russian energy imports and restricted satellite services for Ukraine. The initiative combines a specific bill to revoke a fuel waiver with a broader set of demands regarding military communications infrastructure.

The Treasury Department issued a waiver on October 9 that authorized transactions for Russian diesel, including imports into the United States. This waiver is scheduled to expire on April 7, 2027. President Donald Trump announced the arrangement following talks with Vladimir Putin, stating that Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets. He described the move as a method to expand global diesel supplies and lower prices, a strategy enacted amid rising fuel costs linked to the war in Iran.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026. The bill has co-sponsors Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat from Washington. The measure aims to cancel the current waiver and prohibit future waivers for Russian energy imports. It also mandates that intelligence agencies support Ukraine's defense and notify congressional intelligence committees within 24 hours of any service interruption. The bill is currently under review by three House committees.

Fitzpatrick argued that the waiver weakens the 2022 federal ban on Russian oil imports. He stated, "We must not import a single drop of Russian oil." Bacon accused the administration of reversing its past stance on European energy purchases, calling for Congress to act as a check against what he described as "egregious appeasement to Putin." Gluesenkamp Perez suggested that if the goal is lower gasoline prices, the administration should focus on ending the war in Iran rather than directing funds to Russia.

Separately, concerns have arisen regarding Ukraine's access to satellite communications. Reports indicate that use of SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield systems was restricted, affecting military operations. Ukrainian officials reported on October 24 that connection speeds had been restored, though they noted that no one from SpaceX or the US government had explained the initial disruptions. A Ukrainian official told RFE/RL that Kyiv has been in contact with the US government but has not received clarity on what happened or what will happen next.

Ukrainian reports state that restrictions introduced on October 13 disrupted communications for drones and other platforms moving faster than 100 miles per hour. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the limits persisted despite Trump's claim that service had been restored after contact with Elon Musk. 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 restored speeds, adequate coverage over Russian territory, and a smooth transition from commercial to government-contracted systems.

The lawmakers suggested using the Defense Production Act to ensure service continuity, noting that decisions "should not be left solely to the discretion of a private provider." Several Democrats are seeking formal answers regarding the origin of the 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 Richard Blumenthal has demanded written answers from Musk by November 5 and a SpaceX briefing by November 12.

Representatives Sam Liccardo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta have asked White House chief of staff Susie Wiles for a government-wide investigation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that Trump or other officials ordered or knew of the restrictions. Senator Thom Tillis wrote that whoever is handing Putin "the gift of a more vulnerable Ukraine" should "have the guts to put their name on it."