Maine Sen. Susan Collins signs letter to Trump opposing Russian diesel imports
Maine Sen. Susan Collins has joined five other senators Sunday in signing a letter to President Donald Trump opposing the purchase of Russian diesel amid rising fuel costs.
Trump announced Friday in a social media post that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a deal over the phone that would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel from Russia to the United States. An additional 500,000 tons would be supplied in November, with an addition 4 million to follow, Trump wrote.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, questions Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins during a Senate committee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington in April. (Kevin Wolf/Associated Press)
Three Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — also signed the letter with Collins. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and and Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal also signed.
“I oppose President Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on the purchase of diesel from Russia,” Collins said in a statement provided Sunday by a spokesperson. “I was a cosponsor of the Russian sanctions law, which the President recently signed but is now not following.”
Trump’s announcement came a few weeks after Congress passed legislation in an effort to cut revenue Russia receives from oil and gas to finance its war against Ukraine. The legislation imposes tariffs on some Russian oil and natural gas importers, with exceptions for countries that import 15% or less.
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The six lawmakers also noted in the letter that Congress banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent the United States from financing the war.
“Congress was clear: the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies,” the lawmakers wrote. “President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law.”
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Isabelle Oss is a community reporter covering Kittery, Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, York and Ogunquit. Born and raised in Colorado, she moved to Maine in April 2026. Isabelle holds a master’s. More by Isabelle Oss
