Trump Waives Key Russia Sanctions and Tariffs Before New Law Takes Effect

US President Donald Trump has waived significant sanctions and tariff provisions targeting Russia shortly before they were due to take effect, raising questions about Washington’s strategy towards Moscow amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

In an executive order issued on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the national interest. The legislation was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. However, Trump’s recent approach has included closer engagement with Moscow and public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy criticised the decision in a post on X on Saturday, arguing that easing sanctions could strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin’s resolve to continue the war. He said Russia had attacked more than 15 Ukrainian power generation and transmission facilities on Friday and urged continued efforts to end the conflict without making concessions that would encourage further aggression.

The legislation, backed by the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, proposed tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil or gas, as well as nations helping Russia evade sanctions. It also sought to increase pressure on major buyers of Russian energy.

Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in September. The law allows the president to waive sanctions by notifying Congress that imposing them would not serve US interests. The latest waiver will remain in place until Trump or senior administration officials determine that further action is necessary.

The decision comes as American consumers face higher energy costs amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, with rising prices posing a potential political challenge ahead of the US midterm elections. Analysts have warned that additional restrictions on Russian energy exports could push oil prices higher.

China and India, both major consumers of Russian oil, have expressed concerns about the proposed measures. Beijing has opposed sanctions it considers inconsistent with international law, while New Delhi has warned that additional US tariffs on India could affect India-US bilateral relations.