Trump pauses new Russia sanctions two days before deadline
An executive order suspends the bipartisan Graham-Blumenthal sanctions package just before it was due to take effect, a week after a US-Russia diesel deal.
What to know
- Trump's executive order suspends a sweeping sanctions package aimed at starving Moscow of war funding, two days before it would have taken effect.
- The pause follows Trump's announced US-Russia diesel deal, which lawmakers from both parties say helps Russia without lowering fuel prices.
- The suspended law, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, passed Congress by large bipartisan margins and had directed tariffs up to 100 percent on top buyers of Russian energy.
- Ukrainian officials and some US Democrats say the move weakens pressure on Russia and disadvantages Kyiv ahead of the November 3 US midterms.
“President Trump is a difficult partner, but we are dependent on the United States, and we need to have constructive, respectful relations even with Trump, no matter how difficult it might be”
Oleksandr Merezhko, Chair, Ukrainian parliament foreign policy committee · Al Jazeera interview ↗ · Oct 16
Donald Trump US PresidentKirill Dmitriev Special envoy for Vladimir Putin
Don Beyer US House Democrat (Virginia)Oleksandr Merezhko Chair, Ukrainian parliament foreign policy committee
Lindsey Graham Late US Senator, law's namesake
Richard Blumenthal US Senator (Democrat, Connecticut)
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideos
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Ukrainian MP Merezhko ties the move to US midterms
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera the sanctions pause disadvantages Ukraine and predicted relations with Trump would improve after the November 3 midterms.
“I believe that after the midterm elections, the situation will be better, the emotions will subside and we will be able to return to constructive dialogue with President Trump…”
— Oleksandr Merezhko -
first by Associated Press, 36m ago
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Rep. Don Beyer demands Congress fix the sanctions law — Democratic Representative Don Beyer said he and others had warned Trump might do this, tying the pause to the earlier diesel deal, and called for legislative fixes.
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Putin envoy Dmitriev hails the suspension as historic — Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's special envoy, called Trump's move an important moment and said US-Russia economic dialogue and peacemaking efforts would continue.
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Trump signs order suspending the new Russia sanctions — Two days before the law's deadline, Trump issued an executive order putting the sanctions package on hold and told Congress the pause serves the national interest.
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Bloomberg analysts say the waiver gives Moscow leverage
Bloomberg's Anthony Halpin and Jeff Mason said on Bloomberg Television that the sanctions waiver could offer Russia economic and diplomatic opportunities while adding pressure on Ukraine.
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Trump announces a US deal to buy Russian diesel — Trump said the US signed a deal to buy diesel from Russia in an effort to lower global fuel prices; lawmakers from both parties criticized the deal as helping Russia's war effort without lowering fuel prices.
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Trump signs the Graham-Blumenthal Russia sanctions law — Congress passed the bipartisan bill, named for Senator Lindsey Graham who died in July after returning from Ukraine and co-drafted with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, by large margins; it targets Russian officials, banks, Moscow's shadow tanker fleet, and directs tariffs of up to 100 percent on top importers of Russian oil and gas.
