President Donald Trump has signed an executive order waiving sanctions targeting Russia and the countries that purchase its oil and gas, only days before the restrictions were set to take effect under legislation he signed last month. The move drew immediate reaction from both parties.
In the order signed Friday, Trump said the waiver serves the U.S. national interest. He did not set a specific date for when the sanctions might be imposed, saying they will remain suspended until he or senior officials determine that further action is appropriate.
The move was condemned by both Democrats and Republicans. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the decision "profoundly irresponsible," accusing the administration of making concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "Does the President and his advisors not understand what part of implementing a bill that passed the Senate 86-11?" Tillis wrote on social media on Saturday.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas also criticized the decision, saying the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who championed the law, "would be very upset." Democratic Representative Don Beyer of Virginia said Trump's move betrays Ukraine and disregards Congress's intent to sanction Russia over the invasion. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts accused Trump of "disregarding" Congress and enabling Putin to continue his war against Ukraine, and urged her colleagues to act to reverse the decision.
The legislation bearing the late Senator Graham's name passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. It allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas or help Moscow evade sanctions. Trump signed the bill into law last month. Before his sudden death earlier this year, Graham worked for roughly a year to get the law passed.
The waiver decision came shortly after Trump agreed to a deal to buy Russian diesel in an effort to lower fuel prices, which have risen amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Politicians from both parties have questioned whether the deal would meaningfully reduce energy costs while still generating revenue for Moscow to support its war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized the sanctions waiver on Saturday, saying that easing pressure on Russia would encourage further attacks. "Financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking," Zelenskyy wrote on X, calling on the U.S. to maintain pressure on Moscow.
Congress is in recess until after the midterm elections on November 3, limiting the chances of immediately challenging Trump's decision. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced legislation aimed at blocking the separate diesel deal with Russia.
