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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday described U.S. President Donald Trump’s agreement on Russian diesel supplies as a “very risky” decision, ANSA news agency reported.
Speaking in the Senate ahead of a European Council summit, Meloni said the surge in fuel prices was primarily driven by the war in Iran rather than Ukraine, questioning the rationale behind the U.S. decision.
“Therefore, the outcome of this decision is uncertain, while the risks are clear: legitimization for Moscow,” Meloni said.
She warned of possible “additional revenues to finance its war” and a weakening of Western sanctions leverage against Russia.
Meloni said the agreement could send “contradictory” signals at a time when Western countries, including the United States, have been seeking to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump has urged Russia and Ukraine not to strike each other’s energy sites and last week announced that Moscow would supply diesel to global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices.
His administration also temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel.
Meloni also called for a stronger European role in efforts to end the war in Ukraine, urging EU member states to appoint an authoritative representative with a mandate from all 27 countries.
“We must ensure that Europe does not stand idly by,” she said.
She criticized the possibility of France, Germany and the United Kingdom pursuing diplomatic initiatives through the so-called E3 format without a collective EU mandate.
Meloni said any such efforts should be conducted on behalf of all member states.
Meloni identified high energy prices as the main challenge facing the Italian economy and business competitiveness, calling for a coordinated and rapid European response.
She also reiterated Rome’s position on the EU’s next budget, saying Italy would not accept an agreement that comes at the expense of the Common Agricultural Policy, fisheries or cohesion funding.
Acknowledging the bloc’s goal of reaching a budget agreement by the end of the year, Meloni said Italy would not support a deal simply to meet a deadline.
“We will only sign an agreement when it is right for Italy,” she said.
A dozen U.S. senators, including six Republicans, called on Trump on Tuesday to rescind his diesel deal with Russia, days before his administration must decide whether to formally impose new sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
In a letter to Trump, the lawmakers said the agreement would provide Putin’s government with more fuel to finance its war and would not benefit Americans.
The opposition marks a shift from what had been near-unanimous Republican support for Trump’s foreign policy decisions ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which will determine whether the party retains control of Congress.
Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports and that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, of diesel to the United States and global markets.
Although Trump said he wanted to reduce prices, the amount he referenced is less than a day’s supply for the U.S. transport sector alone, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data cited by Reuters.
The data shows daily use of about 2.94 million barrels per day.
“Granting Moscow the ability to sell Russian diesel freely in global markets damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who continue to defend themselves from Putin’s murderous, illegal war,” the lawmakers said.
“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” they added.
The letter was signed by Republican senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Cornyn of Texas, as well as six Democrats.
Under a law Trump signed last month, he faces an Oct. 18 deadline to impose sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy over the Ukraine war or waive them on national interest grounds.
The letter urged Trump to use the sanctions powers included in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named after the late senator, a Russia hawk and Trump ally who died in July.
The administration has not yet told lawmakers whether it will impose the sanctions or issue a waiver, Reuters reported.
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