Ranking Member Shaheen Leads Bipartisan Lawmakers in Warning CEOs of Banks, Port Authorities and Fuel Distributors Against Importing Russian Diesel

WASHINGTON - On Saturday, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Thom Tillis (R-NC) along with Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent letters to the CEOs of American banks, port authorities and fuel distributors, warning of the potential consequences of facilitating the importation of Russian diesel into the United States.

In the letters, the lawmakers warn that any importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and could be subject to legal action and congressional investigations. Companies that import products in violation of U.S. law may also expose themselves to both criminal and civil liability. They reiterate that the importation of Russian energy products raises grave national security concerns, given that the proceeds would fund Russia's continued war against Ukraine. The legislators also demand that the recipient group of companies preserve all records relating to any proposed or actual importation of Russian-origin diesel.

The letters are addressed to the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo Bank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as well as the heads of Port Authorities of Houston, Corpus Christi and Beaumont, Texas as well as New York/New Jersey. Public reporting and vessel tracking data indicate that ships laden with Russian diesel are on track to deliver to Beaumont, Texas and New York/New Jersey as soon as the end of this month.

"Granting Moscow the ability to freely sell Russian diesel in global markets damages America's security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who are defending themselves against Russia's murderous, illegal war. Moreover, Section 2 of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-109) generally prohibits the importation of Russian-origin energy products, including diesel fuel, unless-following a period for consultation with Congress-the President certifies to Congress that Russia has ceased military hostilities in Ukraine, that Russia poses no immediate military threat to NATO members, and that Russia recognizes the right of Ukrainians to choose their government," wrote the lawmakers.

"Any importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and may be subject to legal action, as well as congressional investigations. Companies that import products in violation of U.S. law may expose themselves to both criminal and civil liability under 18 U.S.C. § 545 and/or 19 U.S.C. § 1595a. Moreover, criminal penalties may apply to any company that knowingly buys Russian diesel or facilitates its importation, and not simply the importer of record," continued the lawmakers.

"The potential arrangement to import Russian diesel also raises significant national security concerns, given that it would finance Russia's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine. Accordingly, we urge you not to facilitate the purchase, transportation, importation, unloading, storage, financing, or distribution of Russian-origin diesel in the United States, or any other transaction involving Russian diesel as described by General License 135, unless and until the relevant statutory requirements have been satisfied," concluded the lawmakers.

A copy of one of the letters can be found HERE and the full text of the letters is provided below.

We write with concern regarding reports of a potential arrangement to import Russian-origin diesel fuel into the United States following President Trump's October 9, 2026, announcement and the issuance of the Treasury Department's General License 135. Granting Moscow the ability to freely sell Russian diesel in global markets damages America's security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who are defending themselves against Russia's murderous, illegal war. Moreover, Section 2 of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-109) generally prohibits the importation of Russian-origin energy products, including diesel fuel, unless-following a period for consultation with Congress-the President certifies to Congress that Russia has ceased military hostilities in Ukraine, that Russia poses no immediate military threat to NATO members, and that Russia recognizes the right of Ukrainians to choose their government. U.S. law also prohibits any licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy with regard to the Russian Federation before congressional review, a requirement the Administration has not fulfilled (Section 216 of CAATSA (Public Law 115-44)).

Against this backdrop, any importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and may be subject to legal action, as well as congressional investigations. Companies that import products in violation of U.S. law may expose themselves to both criminal and civil liability under 18 U.S.C. § 545 and/or 19 U.S.C. § 1595a. Moreover, criminal penalties may apply to any company that knowingly buys Russian diesel or facilitates its importation, and not simply the importer of record.

The potential arrangement to import Russian diesel also raises significant national security concerns, given that it would finance Russia's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine. Accordingly, we urge you not to facilitate the purchase, transportation, importation, unloading, storage, financing, or distribution of Russian-origin diesel in the United States, or any other transaction involving Russian diesel as described by General License 135, unless and until the relevant statutory requirements have been satisfied.

In anticipation of further congressional oversight of this matter, we demand that you preserve all records relating to any proposed or actual importation of Russian-origin diesel and any other proposed or actual transactions involving Russian-origin diesel, including contracts, purchase orders, invoices, shipping documents, bills, vessel and port-call records, terminal or berth reservations, customs documentation, and payment records. This demand extends to communications with suppliers, shipping companies, importers, purchasers, or other intermediaries involved in any such transaction-as well as communications with any U.S. government officials beginning on or after September 1, 2026, regarding potential or actual transactions involving Russian-origin diesel. We further demand that you preserve records regarding berth assignments, port-agent communications, and the identity of any parent company, affiliate, subsidiary, or contractor involved in any such potential or actual transaction. These requests encompass relevant records already in your possession or control, including electronically stored information and communications on personal devices used for business purposes, and any that come into your possession or control in the future.

Please confirm in writing by October 28, 2026, that appropriate preservation measures have been implemented and indicate whether your organization has been involved in, or has knowledge of, any proposed or actual transaction involving the importation of Russian-origin diesel into the United States.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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