Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Void Russian Diesel Waiver and Secure Satellite Access

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced legislation on Friday to reverse a Treasury Department waiver that allows imports of Russian diesel fuel.

The bill, titled the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026, was introduced by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. It is co-sponsored by Republican Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington. The measure would cancel the waiver issued on October 9, which is currently scheduled to expire on April 7, 2027. It would also prohibit future waivers for Russian energy imports. The legislation has been referred to three House committees for review.

The waiver follows an agreement announced by President Donald Trump after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump stated that Russia agreed to provide more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets. He defended the deal as a method to expand global supplies and lower prices, citing rising diesel costs linked to supply disruptions from the war in Iran.

Fitzpatrick said the waiver undercuts a 2022 federal ban on Russian oil imports. He stated, "We must not import a single drop of Russian oil." Bacon told RFE/RL that Congress must act as a check on what he called the president's egregious appeasement of Putin. Gluesenkamp Perez argued that the administration should seek to end the war in Iran to lower gasoline prices rather than direct American funds toward Russia.

The bill also addresses satellite communications. It would require intelligence agencies to support Ukraine's defense efforts and notify congressional intelligence committees within 24 hours of any service interruption. This provision responds to reports that Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starlink and the military-grade Starshield systems was restricted. Ukrainian officials said the disruptions affected military operations, though they reported on October 24 that connection speeds had been restored.

A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter said SpaceX had not responded to Kyiv regarding the earlier limits. The official noted that while Kyiv is in contact with the US government, no one has explained what happened or what will happen next. Ukrainian reports indicate 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 asked for restored speeds and adequate coverage for Ukraine's military operations, including over Russian territory. They suggested using the Defense Production Act, noting that service decisions should not be left solely to a private provider.

Several Democrats are seeking clarity on 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 demanded written answers from Musk by November 5 and a SpaceX briefing by November 12. Representatives Sam Liccardo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta asked White House chief of staff Susie Wiles for a government-wide investigation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Trump or other officials ordered or knew of the restrictions.