WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is stepping up efforts to defend Ukraine, challenging President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian energy imports and demanding guarantees that kyiv will retain access to critical U.S. military and intelligence support.
In a series of legislative initiatives, congressional investigations and calls to the administration, Republicans and Democrats have warned that decisions benefiting Moscow or disrupting Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities could harm U.S. national security, weaken Congressional authority and prolong Russia’s war.
The denial comes after the administration authorized transactions involving Russian diesel fuel, amid reports that Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink and military-grade Starshield satellite communications systems had been restricted.
Ukrainian officials say the disruptions have affected military operations, although they reported on October 24 that satellite connection speeds had been restored. Questions remain about who imposed the restrictions.
A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told RFE/RL that SpaceX had not responded to kyiv about the previous restrictions. The official added that although kyiv was in contact with the US government, “no one has explained what happened or what will happen next.”
These developments have highlighted growing divisions over the administration’s Russia policy, with some Republicans joining Democrats in demanding accountability and stronger guarantees for Ukraine.
The bill seeks an exemption from Russian oil
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, introduced the Ronald Reagan Strengthening Peace Act of 2026alongside Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
The bill would reverse a Treasury Department waiver issued Oct. 9 allowing transactions involving Russian diesel fuel, including imports into the United States. THE temporary authorization is set to expire on April 7, 2027.
Trump has defended the Russia deal as a way to increase global diesel supplies and lower fuel prices. Announcing the deal on Oct. 9 following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, with more shipments to follow. Diesel prices have risen sharply due to disruptions to global energy supplies linked to the war in Iran.
The proposed bill would also prohibit future waivers allowing imports of Russian energy and require intelligence agencies to provide support to Ukraine’s defense, notifying congressional intelligence committees within 24 hours of any interruption.
The legislation aims to strengthen a 2022 federal law banning imports of Russian oil, which the authors say the administration has undermined by its latest move.
“Congress must be a check on the president’s blatant appeasement of Putin,” Bacon told RFE/RL.
In a statement In announcing the bill, Fitzpatrick argued that Washington could not credibly hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable while allowing U.S. markets to support the energy revenues that support his war.
“We must not import a single drop of Russian oil,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that Congress approved the ban with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2022.
He invoked the foreign policy doctrine of the late President Reagan, arguing that force was necessary to secure peace and that aggression must have a greater cost than its rewards.
Bacon accused Trump of walking back his own criticism of European countries buying Russian energy.
“For years, President Trump has criticized Europe for buying Russian energy and supporting Putin’s war economy,” Bacon said. “Now Trump wants to make it easier for Putin to sell diesel fuel. He is wrong.”
Gluesenkamp Perez also condemned the waiver, saying it trampled on U.S. national interests and the bipartisan will of Congress. She argued that if Trump wanted to reduce gasoline prices, he should pursue policies aimed at ending the war in Iran rather than directing American money to Russia.
The bill was referred to three House committees for review. Its introduction constitutes one of the first legislative responses to the administration’s recent decisions regarding Russia.
Lawmakers pressure Pentagon over access to Ukrainian satellites
Concerns about Ukraine’s military capabilities have also brought together lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate.
Eight lawmakers – Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (D-Pennsylvania), Mike Quigley (D-Illinois), Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), as well as Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (D-N. Carolina) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) – urged Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to expand the Pentagon’s Starshield contract and ensure uninterrupted access to Starlink and Starshield services.
Lawmakers called for the restoration of unlimited service speeds, sufficient geographic coverage for Ukraine’s legal military operations, including on Russian territory, and a smooth transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield.
“Any degradation of service, including reduced connection speeds, restricted geographic coverage, or access interruptions, undermines Ukraine’s military effectiveness and gives Russian forces an operational advantage that will prolong the conflict and put more civilians at risk,” they wrote.
They also urged the Defense Department to consider using its authority under the Defense Production Act to ensure reliable access to satellite communications that Ukrainian forces depend on for command and control, intelligence sharing, battlefield communications and drone operations.
“Decisions regarding service availability, coverage and performance should not be left solely to the discretion of a private provider when they have direct consequences on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself,” the lawmakers said.
The call followed Ukrainian reports that restrictions introduced on October 13 had disrupted communications from drones and other military platforms traveling at speeds greater than 100 miles per hour. (160 km/h), affecting Ukraine’s ability to guide its defensive drones and conduct operations against Russian positions.
Musk faces questions over restrictions on Ukrainian satellites
The satellite dispute has prompted additional congressional investigations into who ordered the restrictions and whether the U.S. government has sufficient oversight over the communications systems it relies on.
New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont led a group of six Democratic lawmakers demanding answers from SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk.
Their letter questions Musk’s public assertion that the restrictions were determined by the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president, citing reports that Musk himself proposed limiting Ukrainian communications.
Lawmakers asked whether Elon Musk or SpaceX officials had discussed restricting access with Trump, Putin or their representatives; who ordered limitations; what conditions must Ukraine meet to regain full access; and who will control future operational decisions.
They also expressed concerns about corporate governance and the implications of a private company exercising decisive influence over the communications of a foreign military.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, separately opened a congressional inquiry, demanding written responses from Musk by Nov. 5 and a briefing from SpaceX officials by Nov. 12.
Blumenthal is looking into who authorized the restrictions, whether Ukraine was notified in advance and whether SpaceX can degrade Starshield service for U.S. or allied forces without Pentagon authorization. He also requested information on the value of SpaceX’s government contracts since 2020.
Separately, Democratic Reps. Sam Liccardo and Ro Khanna of California, as well as Panetta, called asked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to open a government-wide investigation and provide a briefing within two weeks.
“Either a private contractor independently made life-and-death national security decisions or President Trump ordered the restriction of critical military communications supporting a U.S. ally,” they say. wrote.
The demands for answers come amid conflicting accounts of who authorized the restrictions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Trump or other administration officials ordered them or had advance knowledge of them. Musk, meanwhile, said Starshield systems were controlled by the U.S. government and that decisions about restrictions ultimately belonged to the military and the president.
Trump said the service was restored following contact with Musk, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disputed that account, saying the restrictions remained in place.
This uncertainty also drew criticism from Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who wrote on »
Gn usa
