Opposition to Trump's "Easing of Sanctions on Russia" Emerges Even Among U.S. Republicans

"Not an inch should be given to Putin"
Republican lawmakers criticize Russian oil imports

U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn opposition from within his own Republican Party after temporarily easing sanctions on Russia, including by allowing imports of Russian oil.

According to The New York Times (NYT) on October 10 local time, former Representative Mike Rogers, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, and Senator Dan Sullivan, who represents Alaska, opposed President Trump's agreement on Russian oil imports.

U.S. President Donald Trump. Screenshot of the White House website.

On October 9, Rogers told reporters that "not an inch should be given to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," and said he disagreed with President Trump's approach.

Sullivan, who is seeking reelection in the November midterm elections, also argued in a statement issued through a spokesperson that "the answer to high energy prices lies in securing U.S. energy dominance." Instead of importing Russian energy, the United States should expand energy production in Alaska, he said.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is preparing to retire, criticized the agreement as "a major mistake by the president." Bacon said, "Everyone knows that sanctions on Russia are appropriate when Russia is invading other countries and bombing cities in the middle of the night."

Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said he would introduce a bill to block purchases of Russian oil and push for a floor vote.

According to U.S. online news outlet Axios, Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the bipartisan Ukraine Caucus in Congress, introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act. He plans to pursue a discharge petition to bring the bill to the House floor without approval from House leadership.

President Trump previously said he had reached an agreement with President Putin to supply Russian oil on a large scale to the United States and global markets. The U.S. government subsequently announced temporary measures to ease sanctions on Russia, including allowing imports of Russian oil into the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.