The Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) are urging Americans to contact their representatives in Congress and demand that they prevent Russian diesel fuel from being shipped to the United States. According to the campaign organizers, the first tanker carrying Russian diesel following the reported agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin departed for the United States on October 23, with its arrival in New York expected on November 7.
This was reported by UNIS.
Ukrainian community organizations in the United States have launched the Stop the Ship! campaign to block imports of Russian diesel fuel. The Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the Washington office of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), is calling on Americans to contact their senators and members of the House of Representatives and demand enforcement of legal restrictions on imports of Russian energy resources.
The campaign was prompted by an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which the American leader announced on October 9, 2026. It provides for the resumption of Russian diesel fuel supplies to the United States and international markets. The Trump administration presented the decision as one way to lower high diesel prices in the United States.
Following the announcement of the agreement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 135. It authorizes transactions related to the sale, delivery, unloading, and import of Russian-origin diesel fuel, including into the United States. The license will remain in effect until April 7, 2027.
Russian Diesel Tanker Heads for New York
According to shipping and transport tracking systems cited by Reuters, the first shipment of Russian diesel fuel to the United States following the October agreement departed on October 23.
The tanker loaded approximately 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel at Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk on October 22. Initial vessel tracking data listed New York as its destination. The tanker is expected to arrive on November 7.
This could be the first identified shipment of Russian diesel to the United States under the new agreement. However, the buyer and seller of the cargo have not yet been identified.
UNIS believes that resuming trade in Russian fuel gives Moscow economic benefits without requiring it to first end its aggression against Ukraine. According to the campaign organizers, such cooperation allows Russia to generate revenue from the American market while continuing its war and attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.
The statement also draws attention to Russian attacks on Ukraine in late October. In particular, the campaign organizers mention a Russian drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro on October 29, which, according to the figures cited in their statement, killed at least 14 people. They also refer to attacks on civilians in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk.
Congress Calls for Enforcement of the Ban on Russian Imports
The campaign materials recall that on April 8, 2022, the United States enacted the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (Public Law 117-109), which prohibits the importation of products of Russian origin classified under Chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. This category includes diesel fuel and other petroleum products.
The bill was supported by 413 members of the House of Representatives, with nine voting against it. The Senate approved it unanimously. The legislation also establishes a separate procedure for lifting the ban.
On October 29, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They called on the agency to enforce the federal ban and prevent Russian diesel from entering the country. The lawmakers also urged officials to refer potential violations for investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
Another legislative initiative was introduced on October 22. Congressional Ukraine Caucus co-chair Brian Fitzpatrick, along with Representatives Marie Perez and Don Bacon, introduced H.R. 10866, the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026, in the House of Representatives.
The bill would prohibit the U.S. Department of the Treasury from issuing exemptions or general licenses authorizing imports of Russian energy resources. If enacted, it would also revoke General License No. 135. The bill has been referred to the relevant House committees for consideration.
Ukrainian Americans Urged to Contact Their Senators
UNIS and UCCA are urging Americans not to wait until Congress resumes full operations following the midterm elections, but to contact their senators and representatives in the House of Representatives now.
The campaign organizers are asking constituents to urge lawmakers to review the legality of the planned Russian diesel shipment, clarify the legal grounds for its importation, and ensure enforcement of existing federal restrictions.
The message to members of Congress should also emphasize that purchasing Russian fuel could provide revenue to a state that continues its war against Ukraine. The organizers expect U.S. lawmakers to demand explanations from the administration regarding the agreement and take steps to prevent prohibited imports.
Americans can contact their elected representatives by email through the official websites of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives or by phone at 202-224-3121.
Campaign link and instructions for contacting Congress: STOP THE SHIP!
Photo: Bjorn S Bjornesjo / MarineTraffic
Author: Danylo Pievchev