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Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said Saturday he will try to force a House vote on legislation blocking purchases of Russian oil, directly challenging the diesel agreement President Trump reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Axios reported.

Fitzpatrick, who co-chairs the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, plans to introduce a bill named the “Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act.” Since House leadership is unlikely to schedule it, he intends to use a discharge petition, a procedural tool that brings a bill to the floor without the Speaker’s approval once it collects 218 signatures. Writing on X, he predicted the measure would pass by a wide margin.

He already has at least one Republican ally. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is not seeking reelection, told Axios he has agreed to sign. The two lawmakers used the same approach earlier this year to force a vote on Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, which cleared the House but stalled in the Senate.

The Deal At Issue

On Friday, Trump announced that Russia would immediately send more than 300,000 tons of diesel to US and international markets, with further shipments planned. The president has presented the arrangement as a way to bring down fuel prices, but critics warn it could help fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. Energy analysts doubt the extra supply will lower prices in a meaningful way.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios the deal was unfair and amounted to a gift to Putin. Trump, for his part, said Saturday that Ukraine should replace Zelensky with a leader who is willing to make a deal with Moscow. The White House had not responded to a request for comment on Fitzpatrick’s bill.

A Tight Timeline

Fitzpatrick’s effort faces steep obstacles. The current Congress ends in January, and the House is not scheduled to hold votes again until after the November 3 midterm elections. Even if the bill passes the House, it would still need Senate approval and could be vetoed by Trump.

Support is also not guaranteed. One House Republican, speaking anonymously, said it would be premature for lawmakers to commit while Congress is out of session for another four weeks. A House Democrat said they would sign the petition and expected most Democrats to do the same, but noted that party leadership may be reluctant to help a Republican, a stance that could shift after the midterms.

Fitzpatrick’s move makes him the latest Republican to openly break with Trump on a major issue, as the party works to hold on to Congress amid growing disapproval of the president.

Sources: Axios: House Republican, invoking Reagan, moves to block Trump’s Russia oil deal