US Senator Urges Shipping Firms to Abandon Russian Diesel Deliveries

Richard Blumenthal, a US senator from the Democratic Party, has formally appealed to shipping companies whose vessels carry Russian diesel fuel to the United States, urging them to drop the deliveries. He considers the shipments illegal. The issue comes as Democrats prepare to challenge the administration of President Donald Trump over its agreement on such supplies.

Letter to a Greek company

Blumenthal sent a letter to the head of the Greek shipping company EASTMED, whose tanker, the Agioi Fanendes, is carrying Russian diesel to the US. The senator suggested the ship be turned around and warned that if it enters port and unloads its cargo, the company would become a party to an illegal transaction. He posted the letter on his official account on the social network X. He later clarified that the open letter is addressed also to all other shipping companies that take part in such deliveries or plan to.

The legal dispute

The senator says the licence issued by the US Treasury Department that permits the shipment contradicts a law adopted in 2022 banning Russian oil imports. In his words, the president could issue a licence to ease the deal, but only Congress can make it lawful.

Blumenthal has asked EASTMED's chief to provide information about the companies it works with on the Russian diesel delivery. He also wants to learn what instructions the company has received from the Treasury Department on the matter, so that he can continue examining the case.

Political context

It was previously reported that Democrats are preparing to act against the Trump administration over the agreement on Russian diesel supplies. It was also reported that, ahead of the elections, some Republicans are beginning to turn away from Trump, and the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on diesel deliveries has become one of the main sources of their discontent.