In brief
President Trump used his presidential authority to block several sanctions on Russia set by the U.S. Congress as the new law—named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham—takes effect. He said waiving the sanctions served national interests, citing a plan to import Russian diesel ahead of mid‑term elections. The decision sparked a bipartisan backlash, with twenty lawmakers urging full implementation. The bill grants the president the power to impose high tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and sanctions key figures and vessels. Trump’s own call with Putin and agreement to buy diesel raised concerns that the move could aid Russia’s war efforts, drawing condemnation from U.S. allies and Ukraine’s president.
President Donald Trump has used his presidential authority to block several sanctions on Russia that Congress recently approved to punish the country for its war in Ukraine.
He announced the move in an executive order on Saturday night, just before the new sanctions bill—named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham—was set to take effect on Sunday. Trump says removing some of the sanctions serves U.S. national interests.
The order follows Trump’s statement that the United States will import Russian diesel in a bid to lower domestic energy prices ahead of the mid‑term elections that could shape congressional control.
Lawmakers across the aisle were shocked by the decision and a bipartisan group of twenty members sent a letter urging Trump to implement the new law in full and without delay.
The legislation gives the president the power to levy tariffs of up to 100 % on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas—especially China and India—and imposes sanctions on Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, banks and the nation’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to evade existing restrictions.
A week earlier, Trump said he had spoken with Putin and agreed to buy diesel from Moscow, a move that has drawn criticism from U.S. allies fearful it could fuel Russia’s war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the deal as a gift to Putin that amounts to an investment in the war that must end.
With the sanctions now active and Trump’s order in place, political backlash continues as the United States reevaluates its strategy toward Russia amid looming mid‑term elections.
