Wright calls Trump's diesel deal a peace incentive. Rubio says Russia would sell anyway.

President Trump's top aides offered sharply different explanations this weekend of his Russian diesel deal amid a barrage of bipartisan criticism calling the move a gift to Russia.

Why it matters: Oil, gas and petroleum products help finance Russia's war on Ukraine, and Trump's moves are bringing rifts within the GOP just ahead of midterm elections.

Catch up quick: Late Friday, Trump waived new sanctions against Russia and tariffs on top buyers of Russian energy that would have taken effect under the bipartisan Graham Act he signed last month.

That came just days after the administration waived certain sanctions as part of a deal aimed at enabling higher exports of Russian diesel after high prices have become a political millstone for Republicans.

Driving the news: Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that Russia could only benefit from the diesel deal if it scales back its war on Ukraine enough to increase exports.

"This is a carrot to try to end a war.

It's not an economic lifeline for Russia," he said.

Yet Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a different explanation Saturday, saying Russia would have sold the diesel regardless of Trump's intervention.

"That diesel was going to be sold one way or the other," Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, per a State Department transcript.

The diesel deal "is an incentive to Russia, that if they can reduce the conflict with Ukraine, they can get an energy ceasefire or reduce the conflict such that they have diesel to export, we'll allow it to flow to world markets," Wright told ABC's "This Week." Context: Ukranian drone strikes against Russian refineries have dramatically hindered Russia's diesel exports.

Ukraine resumed those strikes after Russia continued to hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure, despite Trump's claim that the two sides had agreed to an energy ceasefire.

The combination of the Iran war — which has throttled supply and damaged Middle East refineries — and Russia's export decline have pushed up diesel costs.

Zoom out: The Sunday shows and Rubio's remarks provided the Trump team's most detailed comments on Friday night's executive order , which declines to use new powers under the law named after the late Sen.

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).