Wright calls the diesel arrangement a carrot to end the war
Chris WrightU.S. secretary of energy
Wright said easing sanctions on Russian diesel is an incentive for Russia to scale back the war, since it can export diesel only if it reduces the conflict.
“This is a carrot to try to end a war. It's not an economic lifeline for Russia.”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Should the U.S. lift sanctions on Russian diesel to bring down fuel prices?
On October 9, 2026, President Donald Trump said that after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately and up to 4.8 million tons in all to the American and global markets, and that diesel prices would come down. The same day, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135, which authorizes the sale, delivery and importation of Russian-origin diesel until April 7, 2027. The U.S. has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said easing sanctions without a de-escalation agreement plays into Russia's hands, and lawmakers in both parties said the arrangement would fund Russia's war in Ukraine. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said he would introduce a bill to block all purchases of Russian oil and force a vote by discharge petition. The dispute is over whether the U.S. should ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
ABC News rush transcript of the October 18 This Week interview with Energy Secretary Chris Wright about the diesel arrangement and the Graham Act waiver.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Martha Raddatz asked how giving Russia an economic lifeline was anything but a reward. Wright said Russia currently exports no diesel and that the move lets Russian diesel reach world markets only if Russia reduces the conflict with Ukraine.
After the quotation
Asked about bipartisan criticism of the deal, including a senators' letter calling it a gift to an adversary, Wright said the critics were all wrong and did not understand what Trump was doing.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Labels describe responses to the administration's easing of sanctions on Russian diesel. Wright defends the easing as an incentive for Russia to reduce the war.
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The Dispute Index. "Wright calls the diesel arrangement a carrot to end the war". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6150-wright-said-easing-sanctions-on-russian-diesel-is