President Donald Trump has waived significant portions of a congressionally approved sanctions act targeting Russia, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties and deepened concerns about U.S. support for Ukraine. The executive order, signed Friday, negates many of the sanctions outlined in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which was set to take effect Oct. 18.
The waived sanctions would have imposed penalties on Russian officials, financial institutions, and other entities, along with potential tariffs on goods from major buyers of Russian crude oil. These measures were intended to curtail financial resources supporting Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. International sanctions had previously deprived the Russian state of an estimated $450 billion in war funds since February 2022, according to a June 2025 U.K. government estimate.
Trump's decision comes weeks after he announced a "diesel deal" with Russia and has coincided with his repeated calls for Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, arguing that these attacks contribute to rising U.S. fuel prices. However, experts suggest that global energy prices are more significantly influenced by disruptions related to the Iran conflict and reduced Russian refinery activity.
On October 11, Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire," a statement later contradicted by Ukrainian officials who reported Russian strikes on energy facilities. On the same day, Trump publicly suggested replacing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The waiver of sanctions, which improves Russia's financial standing, is viewed by some as an increasingly uneven display of U.S. support for Ukraine.
"The decision is basically like trading [Ukrainian] democracy for diesel," said Jeff Colgan, a political science professor at Brown University.
The diesel deal, announced October 9, is one of several actions Trump has taken to address fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. The Treasury Department issued a temporary license authorizing transactions involving Russian diesel, including imports into the U.S., through April 7, 2027. Trump stated on Truth Social that Russia agreed to supply global markets with over 4.8 million tons of diesel, predicting a significant drop in prices. However, experts like Tatiana Mitrova, a fellow at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, question the tangible benefit to consumers, suggesting only a modest, short-term effect on wholesale prices.
The broader sanctions waiver may prevent additional disruption to the global energy market by allowing Russian oil to continue flowing to countries like China and India, thus avoiding further market volatility. "The broader sanctions waiver may prevent additional market disruptions, but it does not itself create new supply," Mitrova noted. "The potential economic benefit to American consumers looks rather modest compared with the geopolitical cost of weakening sanctions pressure."
Experts suggest that the more significant benefit for Moscow is avoiding further sanctions that could impact its substantial crude oil export revenues. "Easing the sanctions probably won't move global prices very much (big market), but could mean substantial extra revenue for Russia," Colgan said.
Impact on Ukraine
Beyond potential energy market effects, the sanctions waiver raises questions about Washington's commitment to Ukraine. Russian economist Konstantin Sonin, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, interprets the move as a symbolic gesture supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and potentially signaling to U.S. allies that the United States is retreating from its active role in European affairs. Sonin also suggested the waiver could boost morale for Putin by reinforcing a perception that the U.S. is less supportive of Ukraine.
Mitrova echoed this sentiment, stating that for Putin, the perception of Washington prioritizing domestic energy prices over sustained pressure on Russia might be more valuable than additional diesel revenues. This could strengthen the Kremlin's belief that it can outlast Western support.
President Zelensky criticized the decision, stating on X, "The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me. And it definitely helps only the Russians. It only fuels their satisfaction and their desire to keep killing people. This certainly does not stop the war."
Mitrova also pointed out that the U.S. action contrasts with European efforts to tighten sanctions on Russia, potentially undermining a key aspect of the Western strategy. "Europe is still tightening sanctions against Russia, while Washington is now moving in the opposite direction," she said.
Bipartisan Criticism
The waiver faced widespread condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats, particularly given the overwhelming bipartisan support the Sanctioning Russia Act received in Congress. The act passed the Senate 86-11 and the House 262-159.
Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, called the decision "beyond irresponsible" and "unconscionable." Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, stated, "Lindsey would be appalled," referencing the late Senator Lindsey Graham, the act's namesake.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, said Trump was "enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer described Trump's decision as a "deal with the devil" that "keeps getting dirtier."
Trump utilized a safety valve provision within the legislation, which allowed him to waive sanctions and tariffs upon submitting a written certification to Congress that the action was in the U.S. national interest, accompanied by a supporting report. Trump stated in his order that he had submitted both, but he has not publicly detailed how the move serves national interests, and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.