On Russian Diesel Fuel Supplies and the Risks of Financing Russian Aggression
To the United States Congress
To the Administration of the President of the United States
To the European Parliament
To the Governments and Parliaments of Democratic States
Appeal of the Congress of People’s Deputies
On Russian Diesel Fuel Supplies and the Risks of Financing Russian Aggression
The Congress of People’s Deputies, operating in exile, calls on the United States Congress to
hold public hearings on the easing of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, and on the US
Administration to suspend the relevant authorisations pending the completion of congressional
scrutiny. Providing the Kremlin with new sources of revenue while its aggression against
Ukraine continues requires open political and legal examination.
On 9 October 2026, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) issued General License No. 135, authorising, until 7 April 2027, transactions related to
the sale, delivery, unloading, and importation of Russian diesel fuel, including imports into the
United States. This decision creates an opportunity for additional revenue to flow to Russian
suppliers. Its consequences must be assessed in light of the risk that these resources will bolster a
regime waging war.
We consider any easing of economic pressure on the Russian authorities, in the absence of
verifiable steps towards ending the aggression, to be politically and morally unacceptable. By its
very nature, such a move constitutes yet another element of a policy that sustains the dictatorial
regime in the Russian Federation, as well as a betrayal of the European community and the ideals
of democracy worldwide. Additional export revenues could expand the Kremlin’s capacity to
finance both the war and domestic repression. Promises of cooperation and anticipated
reductions in fuel prices are no substitute for such verifiable steps.
The issuance of a sanctions license does not eliminate the need to scrutinize the limits of
executive authority and compliance with federal law. Political accountability for the
consequences of the decision must be considered separately from the question of its legality. We
do not prejudge the outcome of such scrutiny, but insist that it must examine the legal grounds
for the decision, its beneficiaries, and the risks of financing Russian aggression.
The Congress of People’s Deputies calls upon:
1. The United States Congress – to hold public hearings with the participation of representatives of the Administration and the Department of the Treasury. Congress should determine whether the issuance of General License No. 135 falls within the scope of the congressional review procedure established by Section 216 of CAATSA (22 U.S.C. § 9511) for licensing decisions that significantly alter US foreign policy towards Russia, and whether the applicable procedural requirements were met.
2. The US Administration – to provide Congress and the public with the legal and economic
justification for the decision, the terms of the arrangements associated with it, and information
about the parties, intermediaries, and ultimate beneficiaries involved. The Administration should
disclose the payment arrangements, the anticipated volume of revenue to Russian suppliers, and
the measures intended to prevent such revenue from being used to finance the war.
3. The US Administration and the Department of the Treasury – to suspend the authorization granted under General License No. 135 pending the completion of the review and assessment of the risks outlined above. If effective restrictions preventing the use of the resulting revenue to support Russia’s war machine cannot be ensured, the authorization should be revoked. Any further easing of sanctions should be made conditional on concrete and verifiable steps towards ending the aggression.
4. The competent oversight and law enforcement authorities – to investigate possible
conflicts of interest and private financial interests involving public officials and intermediaries
who participated in preparing and implementing the arrangements. If violations are identified,
those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
5. The European Union and other democratic states – to maintain effective restrictions on
Russian petroleum products, strengthen enforcement against sanctions evasion, and coordinate
measures to prevent US authorisations from becoming a channel for circumventing the sanctions
imposed by other jurisdictions.
6. The United States and its democratic partners – to ensure Ukraine’s participation in
discussions on decisions affecting its security. Energy arrangements with the Kremlin must not
be used as an instrument of pressure on Ukraine to force it to accept territorial or political
concessions.
We support diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace based on Ukraine’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity. Economic concessions to the Kremlin must follow
confirmed steps towards ending its aggression. Providing the Kremlin with new revenue in
exchange for promises creates the opposite incentive: to continue the war in the expectation of
further concessions.
Chairman of the Council of the Congress of People’s Deputies
Ilya Ponomarev
Warsaw, Poland
12 October 2026
Legal references:
● OFAC General License No. 135, dated 9 October 2026
● 22 U.S.C. § 9511