Sherman Joins House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats in Condemning Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal

October 14, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks and fellow Committee Democrats in condemning President Trump’s decision to authorize purchases of Russian diesel, warning that the move would enrich Vladimir Putin and undermine U.S. support for Ukraine: “President Trump is blaming Ukraine for rising fuel costs to distract from the real cause: his war of choice in Iran. The American people are paying the price for this president’s decisions, and now he is filling the Kremlin’s war chest. It is a shameful betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies, and everything the United States stands for. “We welcome the bipartisan condemnation of this deal. But condemnation alone is not enough. When Republicans have had the chance to do more, most have refused. “In April, HFAC Democrats introduced the End Russian Oil Windfalls Act, legislation that would bar the administration from issuing the very licenses Trump is now using to enrich Putin. Republicans declined to cosponsor it and Republican leadership has not moved it since. "If Republicans are genuinely outraged by this deal they should join us, pass this legislation, and put a check on a president who is more interested in appeasing Putin and enriching himself and his inner circle than defending American interests or our commitments to Ukraine. Congress has the power to act.” Sherman and his Democratic colleagues also renewed calls for passage of the End Russian Oil Windfalls Act (H.R. 8222) , legislation introduced in April to prevent the administration from issuing such licenses. ### Issues : Energy Independence Foreign Policy Trade Working for a Peaceful World