Trump waives Russia sanctions as Zelenskyy and lawmakers criticize move

The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me, and it definitely helps only the Russians, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, condemning the White House’s decision to waive core provisions of a recently enacted sanctions package designed to curb Moscow’s war economy. President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Friday suspending critical components of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a move that immediately triggered sharp bipartisan criticism in Washington and deep alarm among European allies.

Graham Act Mandates Steep Tariffs on Russian Goods

Trump’s executive order arrived just two days before the statutory implementation deadline for the legislation. The underlying measure, named after the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, cleared the House on September 16, and was signed into law two days later. The act mandated a hike of up to 500% on duties for all Russian goods imported into the United States. It also compelled the administration to impose tariffs of up to 100% on nations including China and India that rank among the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas.

Friday’s presidential directive specifically waives those two high-impact tariff and duty provisions. In the text of the order, Trump stated that he submitted a certification to Congress declaring that issuing the waiver serves the national interests of the United States.

Rubio Defends Pause to Study Global Economic Fallout

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s choice during a Saturday briefing, explaining that the suspension grants the executive branch a 60-day window to study the potential fallout on both the domestic and global economy. Rubio noted that the measures carried secondary tariffs affecting major buyers like India, necessitating a thorough review of market implications. The pause follows a previous temporary waiver issued on Russian diesel exports running through April 2027, a step taken to mitigate supply shocks tied to the ongoing conflict in Iran that have pushed fuel prices upward ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Lawmakers across party lines rejected the rationale. Connecticut Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat who helped draft the legislation, argued that the president stands alongside the enablers of the Russian war machine rather than the majority of Americans and European allies. On the Republican side, Texas Senator Ted Cruz called the waiver a mistake on Fox News, while his congressional colleague Senator John Cornyn labeled the action reckless. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis characterized the move as beyond irresponsible, and Senator Darline Graham expressed disagreement with the decision of the administration, pointing out that the sanctions served as an essential tool to force an end to the conflict and lower energy costs.

Moscow Welcomes Suspension While Kyiv Warns of Precedent

Moscow welcomed the suspension through Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s economy envoy, who described the decision on X as an important and historic moment that keeps U.S.-Russia economic dialogue alive. Conversely, Kyiv pointed to the timing of the waiver alongside heavy overnight Russian bombardments targeting fifteen Ukrainian energy facilities, which triggered localized blackouts ahead of the winter season. Zelensky warned that the diesel deal and the suspension of the Graham Act set a precedent that could soon extend sanctions relief to the Russian banking system, specific high-ranking individuals, and the chemical sector.

Despite the escalating tensions, communication channels remain open. Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that negotiators from both nations held discussions on Friday and are actively working out details for a potential meeting slated for the coming week.

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