Bessent says the diesel embargo is the only thing lifted
Scott BessentU.S. treasury secretary
Bessent said the diesel embargo was the only sanction lifted and pointed to a British waiver on diesel and jet fuel made with Russian crude, asking where the outrage was for other countries.
“the U.K. in May waived their embargo on diesel and jet fuel made with Russian crude. So, you know, where’s the outrage for the rest of the world?”
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
The Hill reports Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks on NBC's Meet the Press about the diesel arrangement and the Graham Act waiver.
Before the quotation
On Meet the Press, Bessent said no sanctions were lifted on Friday and that the only thing lifted was the diesel embargo.
After the quotation
Bessent said European countries import more than ten times what the United States imports from Russia and called it a false binary to say the United States is siding with Russia.
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. Bessent defends the easing by comparing it with a British waiver and saying European countries buy far more from Russia.
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The Dispute Index. "Bessent says the diesel embargo is the only thing lifted". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6151-bessent-said-the-diesel-embargo-was-the-only