Trump faces backlash over Russia diesel deal ahead of US midterms, announces Ukraine energy truce

US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan criticism over his decision to allow Russian diesel into the US market, as rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war threaten to become a political liability for his Republican Party ahead of next month's midterm elections.Trump announced on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by additional shipments in the coming months, to help ease global fuel shortages and bring down prices for American consumers.The move has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties, who argue that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports could provide Moscow with funds to continue its war against Ukraine.The backlash comes just weeks after Trump signed legislation authorising fresh sanctions and tariffs against countries importing Russian oil and gas.A bipartisan group of seven senators on Sunday urged the president to reverse course, saying the US should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russian forces continue to kill Ukrainian civilians.“Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from fina...