The executive order blocks the Graham sanctions law two days before its deadline, following a deal to import Russian diesel.
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday to block a sweeping package of new sanctions against Russia, pausing the penalties two days before they were scheduled to take effect. Al Jazeera reported that Trump informed Congress the suspension was in the national interest.
The pause came a week after the White House struck a deal with Putin to import Russian diesel in a bid to lower fuel costs. BBC News reported that the sanctions package, which Trump signed into law in September, was set to take effect on Sunday, 18 October.
Measures in the Graham sanctions law
The legislation was named after Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of Ukraine’s staunchest defenders in Washington before dying unexpectedly on 11 July after returning from Ukraine. Graham drafted the bipartisan bill with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, and it passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate by large margins.
The law sought to starve Moscow of funds for its war in Ukraine by targeting key parts of the Russian economy. It included sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior figures within the Russian government, banks and other financial institutions, and the shadow fleet of tankers Russia uses to get around existing trade restrictions.
The measure also gave Trump broad authority to place tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, most significantly China and India. The law carved out an exception for nations that import less than 15 percent of Russia’s natural gas exports and are taking steps to reduce those imports.
Backlash from lawmakers over Russia ties
Trump’s decision to halt the sanctions followed bipartisan criticism over his recent energy discussions with Moscow. Last week, Trump said he held a phone call with Putin and agreed to import Russian diesel to try to bring down fuel prices. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the arrangement, arguing it would aid Russia’s war effort and wouldn’t lower energy prices for consumers.
On Thursday, a bipartisan group of 20 US lawmakers sent a letter urging Trump to respect the statute before the 18 October deadline. While thanking Trump for signing the bill into law, the lawmakers called for the full and faithful implementation of the Graham sanctions to their fullest extent and without delay, saying enforcement would be decisive in forcing Putin to take peace talks seriously.
Other lawmakers argued that the legislation gave Trump too much latitude. Democratic Representative Don Beyer said he and others had warned Trump might act to withhold the measures. Beyer called on Congress to fix the flawed law to prevent Trump from capitulating to Putin and ensure the United States truly supports Ukraine.
Strained Ukraine relations and election pressure
The suspension of the penalties comes alongside growing friction between the White House and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the diesel import deal a gift to Putin, describing it as “an investment in a war that must be ended”. Meanwhile, Trump escalates criticism of Zelenskyy for failing to reach an agreement with Russia to end the war.
The move also arrives as Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress in the 3 November midterm elections. Trump has faced political pressure over the economy and foreign policy. An AP-NORC poll released on 1 October found that Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices alongside several other domestic issues.
