American Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded that shipping companies refuse to deliver Russian diesel fuel to the US and turn back tankers heading to American ports. In his opinion, the Donald Trump administration's permission for such supplies contradicts current federal legislation.
The senator said this on October 28 in the social network X. A day earlier, he sent official letters to two shipping companies demanding they stop transporting Russian fuel.
The main demand concerns the tanker Agioi Fanendes under the flag of Malta, which is carrying almost 40 thousand tons of Russian diesel. The vessel left the Russian port of Primorsk on October 22 and, according to monitoring data as of October 24, was heading to the port of New York and New Jersey. The estimated arrival date is November 7.
Blumenthal appealed to the head of the Greek shipping company Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited, Athanasios Martinos, with a demand to change the tanker's route if its cargo is intended for unloading in the US.
The senator warned that companies involved in supplies of Russian diesel may face legal liability. He believes that such operations violate the 2022 law prohibiting the import of Russian oil and petroleum products into the United States.
Blumenthal also challenged the legality of the Trump administration's decision to temporarily allow operations with Russian fuel.
On October 9, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury (OFAC) issued General License No. 135, which permits certain operations involving the sale, transportation, unloading, and import of diesel fuel of Russian origin.
However, the senator insists that the executive branch's permission cannot override the ban established by Congress. In his view, a legislative decision is needed to change the current legal regime.
At the same time, Blumenthal's position does not mean that a court or American oversight bodies have already recognized specific supplies as illegal. The question of the relationship between the Treasury's general license and the 2022 law remains a subject of legal dispute.
As reported on the senator's official website, he also demanded that shipping companies disclose information about supply participants by October 31, including sellers, buyers, charterers, insurers, and terminal operators.
In addition, Blumenthal asked to be informed whether carriers received any instructions from the US Treasury Department or other federal agencies regarding the transportation of Russian fuel.
The second appeal was sent to the Vietnamese company PetroVietnam in connection with the tanker PVT Azura, which, according to initial reports, could be carrying Russian diesel to the American port of Norfolk.
However, on October 28, the trade publication gCaptain retracted the publication about this vessel. The operator provided documents showing that the tanker is carrying liquid fertilizers, not diesel fuel. Thus, the information about the nature of PVT Azura's cargo was not confirmed.
Earlier, Kurs.com.ua reported that after Trump's agreement with Vladimir Putin, several tankers with Russian diesel headed toward the US. According to Financial Times information, the total volume of declared supplies was estimated at about 140 thousand tons.
On October 26, it became known about a possible investigation of the diesel deal being prepared in Congress. American lawmakers demanded that major banks and port administrations preserve documentation on operations with Russian petroleum products.
In turn, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on October 27 admitted the possibility of additional supplies of Russian diesel. According to him, Washington is considering temporary easing of restrictions as an economic incentive for Moscow as part of efforts to end the war against Ukraine.
