Rising gas and diesel prices are a major reason Republicans risk losing the House and possibly the Senate in November, but President Donald Trump’s energy deal with Russia will not fix that.
uncertain
deal → rise → that
It is too tiny and comes too late to change anyone’s mind about the economy.
asserted
It → come → economy
Worse, it provides much-needed economic relief to a Russian war machine that continues its unrelenting attacks on Ukraine.
asserted
that → provide → Ukraine
Before Trump launched the war on Iran, gasoline was under $3 per gallon, and diesel was under $4.
asserted
diesel → launch → 4
These prices are hitting consumers hard, especially in red states where people drive more and industries such as farming, trucking, and construction depend on diesel.
asserted
industries → hit → diesel
According to a recent Reuters poll, 64% said rising gas prices had affected their household finances, and 75% held the Trump administration responsible.
uncertain
administration → accord → finances
A separate Reuters poll found that 68% disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation, including 40% of Republicans.
asserted
% → find → Republicans
Given these numbers, it is understandable that Trump wanted to do something about voter discontent heading into elections just three weeks away.
asserted
Trump → give → elections
Enter Trump’s Friday announcement that he had struck a deal allowing Russia to supply almost 2 million tons of diesel.
asserted
Russia → enter → diesel
That may sound like a lot, but the deal is backloaded, will not come in time to lower prices before the election, and analysts expect it to produce little sustained relief even when it does come.
uncertain
it → sound → relief
According to Trump himself, Russia will sell only 300,000 tons of diesel in October (about 72,000 barrels a day), then 500,000 tons in November (about 124,000 barrels a day), and then 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.”
uncertain
Russia → accord → November
But even if those last 1 million tons are delivered in just one month, that would amount to about 240,000 barrels a day.
asserted
that → deliver → barrels
For comparison’s sake, Russia already exports about 800,000 barrels a day, and the world consumes about 28 million barrels a day.
asserted
world → export → barrels
Under the announced schedule, 80% of the released diesel will come after the elections.
asserted
% → announce → elections
And that is assuming Russia has the refinery capacity to make good on its promises.
asserted
Russia → assume → promises
Trump then announced an immediate “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, which might make it easier for Russian refineries to meet their commitments.
uncertain
refineries → announce → commitments
But while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be open to such a ceasefire, Russia has not publicly confirmed that it has agreed to it.
asserted
it → say → it
Overnight, Russian forces hit power plants in Kharkiv and Kyiv and a gas production facility.
asserted
forces → hit → Kharkiv
That is all in addition to Russia’s continued targeting of civilians, including strikes on an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia, a grocery store near Kharkiv, and residential buildings in Kharkiv.
asserted
That → continue → Kharkiv
The diesel deal undermines Trump’s efforts to weaken Russia by demanding that NATO allies stop buying Russian oil.
asserted
allies → undermine → oil
Energy purchases provide Moscow with revenue to finance its imperial war.
asserted
purchases → provide → war
Cutting off that revenue would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war.
asserted
Cutting → cut → war
Now, Trump is offering him the revenue he urged our allies to deny him.
asserted
he → offer → him
Trump’s diesel deal offers Americans little prospect of meaningful relief while giving Putin more war money.
asserted
deal → offer → money
It undermines the pressure needed to secure peace, an outcome firmly in America’s interest.
asserted
It → undermine → interest
It helps an invader and betrays a country fighting to keep its freedom.
asserted
It → help → freedom
Ukraine should not have to pay for Trump’s electoral desperation with more destroyed homes and lost lives.
asserted
Ukraine → have → homes
The Aporia
