Trump signs order to bypass major economic sanctions against Russia
Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, 2025, granting a presidential waiver to bypass major economic sanctions against Russia that were scheduled to take effect, according to sources.
Executive Order Bypasses Congressional Sanctions on Russian Energy
The White House decision waived core measures of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation, named after the late South Carolina Republican senator, targeted Russian officials, banks, and shadow fleet oil tankers. It also instructed the administration to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas.
Administration officials offered varying explanations for the sudden reversal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on October 17 before departing for Central Asia that the administration would use a 60-day window to evaluate how sanctions on Russia impact both the global and domestic economies, according to 風傳媒. Trump himself told reporters at a Florida fundraiser on October 17 that the public does not yet know his final decision on the matter, stating that it would ultimately benefit the nation and the world.
Bipartisan Backlash Mounts in Washington as Midterm Elections Approach
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the waiver. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked that Trump had given Vladimir Putin the best birthday present he could get this year,
characterizing the action as an increasingly dirty deal with the devil, as reported by 風傳媒. Thom Tillis called the decision extremely irresponsible on the social media platform X, emphasizing that the Senate passed the underlying legislation by an 86-to-11 vote.
The policy shift coincides with domestic economic pressures ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. According to reporting highlighted by 中國評論新聞, the Trump administration recently announced an agreement with Moscow to secure diesel supplies. Proponents argue the move aims to depress high fuel prices, while critics contend it primarily benefits select Russian entities. Newtalk新聞 noted that the arrangement involves initial shipments of over 300,000 metric tons of diesel, followed by subsequent deliveries.
Kyiv Criticizes Sanctions Relief Amid Ongoing Military Strikes
Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the white house directive in a public statement. Zelenskyy asserted that interrupting sanctions and easing economic pressure on Moscow provides a financial reward to the aggressor state, encouraging further military campaigns. The Ukrainian leader’s remarks followed a wave of aerial assaults targeting energy and infrastructure grids across Ukraine.
Congressional Recess Limits Immediate Legislative Countermeasures
Despite sharp criticism from Capitol Hill, lawmakers face procedural hurdles in blocking the executive actions. Because both the Senate and the House of Representatives remain in recess until after the November elections, congressional opponents lack the immediate mechanism to overturn the sanction waivers, as detailed by 風傳媒. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain active as U.S. presidential envoy Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov to discuss potential high-level talks.