WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of US 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 American military and intelligence support.
In a series of legislative initiatives, congressional inquiries, and appeals to the administration, Republicans and Democrats have warned that decisions benefiting Moscow or disrupting Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities could undermine US national security, weaken congressional authority, and prolong Russia’s war.
The pushback 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 had been in touch with the US government, "no one has explained what happened or what will happen next."
The developments have exposed growing divisions over the administration’s Russia policy, with some Republicans joining Democrats in demanding accountability and stronger safeguards for Ukraine.
Bill Targets Russian Oil Waiver
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, has introduced the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act of 2026, alongside Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
The bill would nullify a Treasury Department waiver issued on October 9 that authorized transactions involving Russian diesel fuel, including imports into the United States. The temporary authorization is due to expire on April 7, 2027.
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Trump Waives Graham Act Sanctions On Russia Before They Take EffectTrump has defended the agreement with Russia as a way to increase global diesel supplies and bring down fuel prices. Announcing the deal on October 9 following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets, with further shipments to follow. Diesel prices have risen sharply amid disruptions to global energy supplies linked to the war in Iran.
The proposed bill would also prohibit future waivers allowing Russian energy imports and require intelligence agencies to provide support for Ukraine’s defense, notifying congressional intelligence committees within 24 hours of any interruption.
The legislation seeks to reinforce a 2022 federal law prohibiting Russian oil imports, which the sponsors say the administration has undermined through its latest decision.
“Congress must be a check to the president’s egregious appeasement to Putin,” Bacon told RFE/RL.
Republican Representative Don Bacon (center) speaks outside the US Congress after the passage of the Ukraine Support Act on June 4.
In a statement announcing the bill, Fitzpatrick argued that Washington could not credibly demand accountability from Russian President Vladimir Putin while allowing American markets to support the energy revenues sustaining his war.
“We must not import a single drop of Russian oil,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that Congress had approved the prohibition with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2022.
He invoked the late President Reagan’s foreign policy doctrine, arguing that strength was necessary to secure peace and that aggression must carry a cost greater than its rewards.
Bacon accused Trump of reversing his own criticism of European countries for purchasing Russian energy.
“For years, President Trump criticized Europe for buying Russian energy and propping up Putin’s war economy,” Bacon said. “Now, Trump wants to make it easier for Putin to sell diesel fuel. He is wrong.”
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Ukrainian Officials Slam Trump's Waiver Of Russia Sanctions As Rubio Defends MoveGluesenkamp Perez also condemned the waiver, saying it ran roughshod over American national interests and the bipartisan will of Congress. She argued that if Trump wanted to reduce gasoline prices, he should pursue policies that end the war in Iran rather than direct American money toward Russia.
The bill has been referred to three House committees for consideration. Its introduction marks one of the first legislative responses to the administration’s recent Russia-related decisions.
Lawmakers Press Pentagon Over Ukraine Satellite Access
Concern over Ukraine’s military capabilities has also brought together lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate.
Eight lawmakers -- Representatives Marcy Kaptur (Dem.-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (Rep.-Pennsylvania), Mike Quigley (Dem.-Illinois), Jim Costa (Dem.-California), and Jimmy Panetta (Dem.-California), along with Senators Mark Kelly (Dem.-Arizona), Thom Tillis (Rep.-North Carolina), and Elissa Slotkin (Dem.-Michigan) -- have urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to expand the Pentagon’s Starshield contract and ensure uninterrupted access to Starlink and Starshield services.
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Russia's Starlink Rival Faces Problems In Orbit And Threats On The GroundThe lawmakers called for the restoration of unrestricted service speeds, sufficient geographic coverage for Ukraine’s lawful military operations, including over Russian territory, and a seamless transition from commercial Starlink to government-contracted Starshield.
“Any degradation in service, including reduced connection speeds, restricted geographic coverage, or interruptions in access, undermines Ukraine’s military effectiveness and provides Russian forces with an operational advantage that will extend the conflict and put more civilians in harm’s way,” they wrote.
They also urged the Defense Department to consider using its authority under the Defense Production Act to ensure reliable access to the satellite communications on which Ukrainian forces depend 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 for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself,” the lawmakers said.
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Star Wars: A Russian Military Satellite Gets Very, Very Close To One Used By UkraineThe appeal followed Ukrainian reports that restrictions introduced on October 13 disrupted communications for drones and other military platforms moving faster than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), affecting Ukraine’s ability to guide defensive drones and conduct operations against Russian positions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the restrictions remained in place despite Trump’s assertion that the service had been restored.
Musk Faces Questions Over Ukraine Satellite Restrictions
The satellite dispute has prompted additional congressional investigations into who ordered the restrictions and whether the US government has sufficient oversight of the communications systems it relies on.
New York Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont have led a group of six Democratic lawmakers demanding answers from SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk.
Their letter questions Musk’s public assertion that restrictions were determined by the US military and ultimately the president, citing reports that Musk himself proposed limiting Ukrainian communications.
The lawmakers have asked whether Musk or SpaceX officials discussed restricting access with Trump, Putin, or their representatives; who ordered any limitations; what conditions Ukraine must meet to regain full access; and who will control future operational decisions.
They also raised concerns about corporate governance and the implications of a private company exercising decisive influence over a foreign military’s communications.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has separately opened a congressional inquiry, demanding written answers from Musk by November 5 and a briefing from SpaceX officials by November 12.
Blumenthal is seeking details about who authorized the restrictions, whether Ukraine received advance notice, and whether SpaceX can degrade Starshield service for US or allied forces without Pentagon authorization. He has also requested information on the value of SpaceX’s government contracts since 2020.
Separately, Democratic Representatives Sam Liccardo and Ro Khanna of California, along with Panetta, have called on White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to initiate 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 directed the restriction of critical military communications supporting a US ally,” they wrote.
The demands for answers come amid conflicting accounts of who authorized the restrictions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that Trump or other administration officials ordered them or knew about them in advance. Musk, meanwhile, has said Starshield systems are controlled by the US government and that decisions on restrictions ultimately rest with the military and the president.
Trump has said service was restored following contact with Musk, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disputed that account, saying restrictions remain in place.
The uncertainty has also drawn criticism from Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who wrote on X: “Whoever is handing Putin the gift of a more vulnerable Ukraine should at least have the guts to put their name on it.”