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Donald Trump will not impose new sanctions on Russia imposed by a sweeping law passed by Congress last month.
In an executive order issued Friday evening, Trump invoked a waiver of the law that gives him broad authority not to impose new economic sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine if he believes doing so is in the national interest.
“I hereby waive the enforcement of the sanctions, restrictions and obligations provided for in the Graham Act,” he said.
The executive order did not explain why Trump chose not to enact the legislation he signed. The move comes as the administration lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to rein in energy prices ahead of next month’s midterm elections, and amid deteriorating relations with Ukraine.
The Lindsey O Graham Russia-Iran Sanctions Act, which was signed into law by Trump last month, imposes sanctions on Russia’s defense and energy sectors as well as its shadow fleet of aging oil tankers, which have been used to evade restrictions.
The bill was championed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and kyiv supporters on Capitol Hill, who hoped it could increase pressure on the Russian economy and push Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
It also gave the president sweeping powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas. The provision divides Democrats, who fear Trump could use his expanded tariff powers to penalize his allies.
The legislation — named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, a sponsor of the bill and strong supporter of Ukraine — gave the administration 30 days until Sunday to impose new economic sanctions on Russia or to notify Congress that it chose to invoke the waiver.
“By waiving these sanctions, Trump is thumbing his nose at Congressional directives aimed at increasing pressure on the Kremlin and allowing Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression,” said Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.
On Saturday, Zelensky said the waiver would only serve to help Putin prolong the war and support Russian efforts “to cause a blackout in Ukraine – just before winter.”
“At the moment when the Russians carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, the decision was unfortunately made in America to completely ignore the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to put truly effective pressure on Russia to end this war,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X.
“This law could have helped enormously – and it still can! » he added. “But it has to really work, and every vote in favor of this project counts. »
Zelensky said Russian forces had “carried out one of their largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector overnight,” hitting more than 15 critical electricity production and transmission facilities, which had “serious consequences.”
More than 320 jet and other drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, targeted “Ukraine’s energy sector, our cities and our communities”, he added.
Trump leaned heavily on Zelensky to stop hitting Russian oil refineries, as Russian attacks killed more than 100 civilians last week.
kyiv has been blindsided by unexplained gaps in intelligence from its foreign partners about impending missile strikes, as well as restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet systems used by Ukrainian drone units.
Trump has denied that the United States has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
During talks in Miami last week, U.S. officials threatened to end vital intelligence sharing if Ukraine did not stop its attacks on Russian refineries.
In an interview with the FT this week, Zelensky was defiant and vowed to resume his attacks on Russian oil refineries in light of Moscow’s continued bombing of Ukraine.
He also lambasted Washington’s eagerness to strike trade deals with Moscow and Trump’s apparent admiration for Putin.
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