Trump puts new Russia sanctions passed by Congress on hold amid deepening row with Ukraine
President signed the legislation championed by late senator Lindsey Graham last month but has waived the restrictions as they were due to come into effect Donald Trump has put on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause on the legislation passed by both chambers was in the national interest. In an executive order on Friday, the US president…
President Donald Trump recently halted the enforcement of a new sanctions package targeting Russia, signed last month by Congress and championed by late senator Lindsey Graham. The US president declared the pause to be in the national interest, despite the legislation's aim to curb financial resources fueling Russia's war against Ukraine.
The legislation, signed into law, instructed Trump to implement sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy within two days or waive them. However, Trump's executive order on Friday waived many of the restrictions, coming amid his public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This move comes after Trump announced a controversial deal to purchase diesel from Russia, which has faced widespread criticism from US senators, including six Republicans.
Zelenskyy accused the US of using the diesel deal to line Russia's coffers, following a meeting with European leaders in Brussels. Meanwhile, Trump's administration is accused of withholding intelligence on incoming Russian ballistic missile strikes and throttling Starshield, a military satellite internet network. Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister and expected Senate replacement, has used the sanctions bill as a campaign issue in her bid for the Senate.
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