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Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Amid Criticism
· Confirmed
In Short: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving several sanctions on Russia, a move that has drawn criticism from a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
The sanctions, part of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, were set to take effect on Sunday and were designed to target Russia's energy and defense sectors, as well as senior Russian officials and financial institutions.
In the executive order, Trump stated that it is in the national interest of the United States to waive some of the sanctions.
The lawmakers, who had urged Trump to fully implement the sanctions, expressed disappointment with the decision.
"Putin is a tyrant. Withdraw from this agreement, rescind General License No. 135, and execute the authorities provided under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," the lawmakers urged.
The sanctions bill also includes provisions to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five biggest importers of Russian oil and gas, with exceptions for countries importing less than 15% of Russia's natural gas and working to reduce their dependency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Trump's executive order, describing it as a mistake that emboldens Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia is expressing its 'thanks' for a diesel deal agreed with the United States by attacking Ukraine," Zelensky said, referring to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy sector.
The waiver comes amid ongoing discussions between Russia and the US, and Russia has linked the proposed energy truce to these negotiations.
"It is crucial that we, as Europe, demonstrate our unconditional support for them today -- and explore what additional steps we can take," a European official said.
"Now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure," another official added.
"This is my answer," Trump told journalists in Brussels, after an extended pause.
"I believe the 'diesel deal' is just the first step," Zelensky told reporters, adding that he still hopes Trump will do everything in his power to make Putin end the war.
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported that Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 but also waived many of its provisions.
WarpBeat also noted that Trump stated in an executive order that it is in the US national interest to withhold some of the sanctions, a move that has drawn criticism from lawmakers.
Background
President Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was designed to impose significant sanctions and tariffs on Russia, but he also waived many of its provisions.
In an executive order, Trump stated that it is in the US national interest to withhold some of the sanctions, a move that has drawn criticism from lawmakers.
What's confirmed
- Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 last month.
- "Putin is a tyrant. Withdraw from this agreement, rescind General License No. 135, and execute the authorities provided under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Maintain our legacy – and the duty America holds – as leader of the free world," they urged.
- WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that waived sweeping US sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia’s energy revenues after signing them into law last month.
- “As described further in section 4 of this order, I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” the executive order said.
- The law targeted Russia’s energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, as well as Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions.
- In brief: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday, Oct. 16, waiving sweeping Russia sanctions and tariffs set to take effect Sunday under legislation he signed just a month earlier.
- Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, days before several measures were due to take effect, citing the national interest of the United States.
- US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order putting on hold a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia’s economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest.
- Go Ad Lite Home world us Trump waives many Russia-related sanctions that threatened steep tariffs on India Trump's executive order comes as he has been warming toward Russia and publicly criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader.
- United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order waiving newly-passed Russia sanctions, claiming the move is in the US’s “national interest”.
What's still developing
- On Thursday, a bipartisan group of 20 US lawmakers issued a letter calling on Trump to respect the new law, which is due to take effect on 18 October.
- The US sanctions law is named for the late Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of Ukraine's staunchest defenders in Washington before his death on 11 July.
- The lawmakers said it would be "decisive in forcing Putin to take peace talks seriously" and called on the Trump administration "to apply the Graham law's sanctions to their fullest extent and without delay".
- US President Donald Trump signed the bill on Friday US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping sanctions bill, taking aim at Russia's economy by punishing major purchasers of its oil and gas.
- Unlike a conventional high-explosive warhead that distributes its blast and fragmentation over a wider area, a cumulative cutting charge is intended to concentrate explosive energy into a directional effect.
- Help rescue animals from the front line — shop our Companion Collection 🐾 U.S. President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver of sanctions under the Lindsey O.
- US President Donald Trump says he is waiving many sanctions, restrictions and duties days before they were to take effect under a bill that he signed into law last month.
- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed legislation imposing and expanding sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, while authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas and extending existing sanctions on Iran, the White House said.
- It sought to starve Moscow of money for the war by sanctioning Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers carrying its energy.
- As Republicans try to keep control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, an AP-NORC poll released on October 1 found Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices among several other domestic policy issues.
- President Donald Trump has waived key Russia-related US sanctions and tariffs days before they were to take effect under a law he signed in September, including duties on the country's goods and penalties for buying its oil and gas.
- Russia on Saturday hailed US President Donald Trump's move to waive new sanctions on it as "historic", as Ukraine worries he is taking Moscow's side in Europe's worst conflict since World War II.