Roger Marshall Says He's 'All for' Russian Diesel Deal If It Ends Ukraine War

Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said on Wednesday that he would support President Donald Trump's deal to buy Russian diesel if it helps end the war in Ukraine. He also said the idea did not appeal to him.

"Look, it doesn't sound like a great idea to me, but already today, now we're seeing folks back at the bargaining table," Marshall said at a debate with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, hosted by Kansas City's WDAF-TV. "If this brings Russia to the bargaining table and it ends the war, then I'm all for it right now."

The answer was conditional. Marshall did not endorse the deal's terms and did not break with the White House. But it puts the first-term senator behind a policy that six of his Republican colleagues have asked Trump to reverse, in a race that PolitiKool's polling average shows within two points.

What the Russian Diesel Deal Does

Trump announced on Oct. 9 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets right away, then 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons immediately after that and, finally, 3 million tons within a short period of time, PBS NewsHour reported. The Treasury Department then issued a temporary license under which U.S. sanctions will not apply until April 2027, but only to deliveries of Russian diesel that had already been loaded onto tankers as of Oct. 9.

"Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority," Trump wrote.

The deal drew criticism from both parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it "a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners" and said it would let Russia "kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America." Twelve senators, six from each party, signed a letter calling it "a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies" and urging Trump to rescind it. The Republican signers included Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis. Marshall did not sign.

Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina, who helped pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, said the deal probably would not have been her choice.

Marshall Turns to Europe, Hamilton Turns to Kansas Wheat

Marshall quickly moved from diesel to Europe, questioning Europe's natural gas purchases. "Why do we have to have 100,000 troops in Europe to protect them?" he said. "Look, I'm an American first person. I believe in peace through strength."

Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor from Leawood, used a 15-second rebuttal to accuse Marshall of abandoning an ally.

"So what you said just now is you're going to sell out our friends in Ukraine. That's not okay," Hamilton said. It's indecent."

Marshall asked to respond, but the moderator moved on. The Kansas Historical Society describes the story that Mennonite immigrants from Russia brought Turkey Red winter wheat to Kansas as family lore, and says some experts have argued it is only a myth. Its account does not address whether the seed came from present-day Ukraine. The society does confirm that many modern Kansas wheat varieties trace genetically to Turkey Red.

Marshall sounded different in March 2022, weeks into Russia's full-scale invasion. After a congressional trip to Germany and Poland, he said Ukraine could win and urged: "Get them the damn weapons."

Diesel Prices Behind the Debate

Diesel prices made the question pressing. The national average retail price was $3.81 a gallon in the week of Feb. 23, Energy Information Administration data show. It peaked at $6.53 in the week of Sept. 21 and stood at $6.28 on Monday, about 73 percent above the same week last year.

In Kansas, that cost reaches the tractors, combines and trucks that move the state's wheat. Both candidates offered explanations at the debate. Marshall blamed the Ukraine war and reduced Russian production. Hamilton blamed the Iran war. PolitiFact found both had a point. Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have cut global supply, while the Iran conflict has held back the Persian Gulf refiners that might have made up the difference.

What Happens Next in the Kansas Senate Race

Hamilton holds a narrow edge: 46.7 percent to Marshall's 44.9 percent in PolitiKool's polling average.

Hamilton also leads in money. He raised $9.9 million in the third quarter to Marshall's $866,000 and started October with $3.2 million in the bank to Marshall's $922,000, Roll Call reported. The race is one of several GOP-held seats that will decide whether Republicans keep the Senate.

Wednesday's debate was the last one scheduled before the Nov. 3 election.