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Trump Waives Russia Sanctions, Defying Lawmakers
· Confirmed
In Short: The lawmakers thanked Trump for signing the sanctions bill but urged his 'full and faithful implementation' of the law.
The sanctions, part of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, were designed to target Russia's energy and defense sectors, senior officials, and its shadow fleet of tankers used to circumvent existing sanctions.
In a statement, Trump said it was in the national interest of the United States to withhold some of the sanctions.
A bipartisan group of 20 US lawmakers had issued a letter on Thursday calling on Trump to respect the new law, which was due to take effect on October 18.
The lawmakers thanked Trump for signing the sanctions bill but urged his 'full and faithful implementation' of the law.
The lawmakers also called on the Trump administration to apply the sanctions 'to their fullest extent and without delay,' emphasizing that the sanctions would be 'decisive in forcing Putin to take peace talks seriously.'
Trump's executive order came amid ongoing discussions between Russia and the US, with Russia seeking relief from US sanctions and linking the proposed energy truce to these negotiations.
The sanctions bill, formally titled the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, includes exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are working to lessen their dependency.
The bill also authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas and extends existing sanctions on Iran.
Trump's decision to waive the sanctions has drawn criticism, with a bipartisan group of senators urging him to withdraw from his diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and rescind General License No. 135.
They argued that the agreement 'damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine.'
The sanctions bill was designed to punish major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, targeting Russia's economy and its ability to fund its war in Ukraine.
Trump's executive order also comes as he has been warming toward Russia and publicly criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader.
What this adds
The sanctions bill was designed to impose significant sanctions and tariffs on Russia, but Trump waived many of its provisions.
Trump's reversal on the Russia sanctions comes after a controversial deal he struck with Putin that would allow Russia diesel exports in exchange for US sanctions relief.
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.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving sanctions on Russia, a move that contradicts the wishes of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who had urged him to fully implement the sanctions.
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.
- 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.
What's still developing
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "This is my answer," he told journalists in Brussels, after an extended pause.
- "It is crucial that we, as Europe, demonstrate our unconditional support for them today -- and explore what additional steps we can take," he said.
- Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said that "the situation in Ukraine is currently truly dire, with numerous Russian attacks and a tense relationship between Ukraine and the US."
- US President Donald Trump signed sweeping legislation into law targeting Russia’s energy, defense, and maritime sectors, the White House announced on September 18.
- "We said you could do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries, because that's a world problem that's caused," Trump said on Oct. 10.