US Congress prepares a bill to ban purchases of Russian oil

What is proposed

Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said on X on 10 October that he and colleagues from both parties will introduce a bill to block any purchases of Russian oil. It will be called the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act.

According to Fitzpatrick, the bill “will be forced to a vote via a discharge petition, and it will pass with an overwhelming majority”. As Suspilne explains, a discharge petition allows a bill to reach the House floor without the consent of the Speaker and the relevant committee, but it needs the signatures of at least 218 of the 435 members.

Fitzpatrick has not yet said when the bill will be introduced, which Democrats are co-sponsoring it, or exactly how it would restrict purchases.

Bacon: “It looks like weakness”

Republican Don Bacon told Ukrainska Pravda he would be the second Republican to sign the bill and one of its first co-sponsors. He called Trump’s decision on Russian diesel a serious mistake: “It looks like weakness: the president is accommodating Putin, who is a dictator and a war criminal.”

“By allowing purchases of Russian diesel we are giving money to the Russian economy and its war machine,” Bacon said. He believes the White House’s motive is to bring diesel prices down before the midterm elections — about six dollars a gallon, in his words. He also cited polls showing about 70% of Americans support Ukraine. “It is time to put the president in an uncomfortable position,” he added.

Pence: “A betrayal of Graham’s legacy”

Mike Pence, vice-president in Trump’s first term, also came out against the decision. On X he wrote that lifting sanctions on Russian fuel while Putin attacks civilian targets in Ukraine “makes no sense” and is “a betrayal of the legacy and leadership of the late Senator Lindsey Graham”.

As Suspilne recalls, Graham died on 11 July 2026; he initiated the Russia sanctions law that Trump signed on 18 September, which allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian energy. Pence said he visited Ukraine in September and urged Trump to cancel the deal immediately: “Putin doesn’t want peace. Putin wants Ukraine.”

Why it matters

The initiative shows that Trump’s diesel deal with Putin has met resistance not only in Europe but also among some Republicans. If the petition gathers 218 signatures, Congress could vote on tougher restrictions on Russian oil even without the backing of the House leadership.