Trump waives Russia sanctions in law he signed last month

What This is

• Trump paused a sweeping sanctions package aimed at the Russian economy, issuing an executive-order waiver shortly before the measures were due to take effect under legislation he signed last month.
• The waiver has no fixed expiration date and remains in effect until Trump or designated officials determine that further action is appropriate.
• The sanctions law was named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and had bipartisan backing in Congress.
• The law was designed to target Russian officials, banks, and energy shipping networks, and to reduce the money available for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• The package also included tariffs and other penalties tied to Russian oil and gas, including measures targeting countries that purchase Russian energy.
• Trump’s move came after he announced a separate diesel deal involving Russia.

Why This Matters

• It highlights the discretion Congress granted the president over sanctions, raising questions about checks and balances.
• If major sanctions can be paused at the last minute, Ukraine and Russia may both reassess the credibility of future U.S. threats of economic pressure.
• Linking sanctions policy to energy supply decisions highlights the tension between punishing Russia and managing energy prices.
• A U.S. pullback on sanctions can complicate allied coordination, since many countries coordinate their measures to prevent sanctions evasion.