Trump Blocks Russian Sanctions, Citing National Interest

President Donald Trump has used his executive authority to block several sanctions on Russia that were recently approved by Congress, stating that it is in the U.S. national interest to withhold them. The executive order, issued Friday night, comes just days after Trump announced the U.S. would import Russian diesel to help lower domestic energy prices ahead of the November midterm elections.

The sanctions law, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was designed to punish Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine. It gave the president broad powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The law also included sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian government officials, financial institutions, and the country's "shadow fleet" of tankers used to evade existing sanctions.

Trump signed the sanctions bill into law in September, and it was scheduled to take effect on Sunday, October 18. The president's decision to waive certain provisions has drawn bipartisan criticism from lawmakers. On Thursday, a bipartisan group of 20 U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to Trump urging his "full and faithful implementation" of the new law, arguing it would be decisive in compelling Putin to engage in peace talks.

Trump's recent agreement to purchase diesel from Moscow also faced criticism from U.S. allies, who expressed concern it could aid Russia's war effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the deal as a gift to Putin, amounting to "an investment in a war that must be ended."