President Donald Trump has used a national-interest waiver under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to suspend significant new sanctions on Russia. Signed into law in September, the act had mandated increased tariffs of up to 500% on all Russian imports and up to 100% on countries like China and India that purchase large amounts of Russian oil and gas. Trump’s executive order, issued just two days before these measures were set to take effect, exempts these tariff hikes while maintaining previous sanctions under earlier executive orders.

The decision sparked sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who condemned the waiver as a “wrong” move that benefits Russia amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy warned that this could lead to further easing of sanctions, adversely affecting efforts to curtail Russia’s war funding. He underscored Ukraine’s dependence on continued U.S. military and intelligence support, even as other measures to restrict Russia’s capabilities remain a priority.

Russia welcomed Trump’s waiver, with Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev calling it a historic moment for U.S.-Russia economic dialogue and peacemaking. However, Democrats and some U.S. lawmakers strongly opposed the move. Senator Richard Blumenthal denounced Trump for siding with Russian aggression and opposing bipartisan Congressional efforts and allied unity against the Kremlin's war machine.

This waiver follows a recent Trump administration decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports through April 2027, aimed at easing energy supply strains caused by the Iran conflict. The broader context involves a delicate balancing act by Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections, as high fuel prices and geopolitical tensions weigh heavily on voters and policy debates.