Republican Representative Fitzpatrick Moves to Force House Vote Against Russian Oil Purchases
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Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick announced a discharge petition to compel a vote on legislation banning U.S. purchases of Russian oil, setting up a direct challenge to President Trump's recent loosening of restrictions on Russian diesel exports.
Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), co-chair of the House Ukraine Caucus, said on Oct. 10 that he will introduce the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at blocking all U.S. purchases of Russian oil. Fitzpatrick wrote on X that the bill would be forced to the floor through a discharge petition and predicted it would pass overwhelmingly.
The proposal, co-sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon (Nebraska), would need 218 signatures to bypass committee approval. It faces procedural obstacles, since Congress will not resume voting for several weeks and the current term ends in January. Even if it passes the House, it would still need Senate approval and could run into resistance from the White House.
Republican lawmakers voiced alarm that President Trump's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports could funnel money into Moscow’s war effort. Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas) warned that lifting sanctions may “fund the Kremlin's war machine,” while Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) urged the president to use existing sanction authorities to cut off Russian energy earnings.
Democrats pointed to the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which bans Russian oil imports unless the president certifies compliance with specific conditions. Former Rep. Tom Malinowski urged Democratic leaders to use the law’s expedited procedures to block the diesel arrangement.
Advocacy groups said the decision weakens recent sanctions legislation. Daniel Balson, advocacy director at Razom for Ukraine, said the move “increased our own” exposure to Russian energy and called for congressional action.
Sen. Angus King (independent, Maine) condemned the diesel deal as offering little benefit to U.S. consumers while helping Vladimir Putin’s war, calling it “a fraud.”
President Trump, on the same day, repeated his call for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced, suggesting an election could produce a settlement with Russia. Ukrainian officials rejected the idea, stressing the need to keep pressure on Moscow.
European officials also denounced the easing of Russian energy restrictions, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying Europe would not relax pressure on Russia and announcing upcoming sanctions aimed at supporters of the war.