Fitzpatrick to force vote blocking Trump's Russia diesel deal

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) will introduce the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act to force a House vote on blocking Russian oil purchases, a move that directly challenges President Donald Trump's diesel agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, stated he will use a discharge petition to bring the measure to the floor, asserting that the bill "will pass overwhelmingly." Retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) confirmed to Axios that he has already agreed to sign the petition.

The legislative push responds to Trump's Friday announcement that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets, with additional shipments expected to follow. While Trump has promoted the deal as a mechanism to lower fuel prices, energy analysts remain skeptical that the extra diesel will meaningfully reduce costs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the arrangement in an interview with Axios, describing it as "not fair and not honest" and characterizing it as a gift to Putin. In response, Trump called on Saturday for Ukraine to replace Zelensky with a leader willing to reach a deal with Russia.

The discharge petition requires 218 signatures to bypass House leadership approval, a tactic Fitzpatrick and Bacon employed earlier this year on Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions. That previous effort passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Fitzpatrick faces significant procedural hurdles, as the House is not scheduled to vote again until after the Nov. 3 midterm election. Any legislation passing the House would still require Senate approval and could face a veto from Trump.

Reaction within the House remains divided. One House Republican, speaking anonymously, noted that because Congress will not be in session for another four weeks, prudent lawmakers might avoid making premature commitments to the bill. Conversely, one House Democrat told Axios they would personally sign the petition and believed "most" of their colleagues would do the same, though unanimous Democratic support is not guaranteed. The Democrat added that leadership may initially resist assisting Fitzpatrick, but that stance could shift after the midterms. The White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding the proposed legislation.