Trump suspends sanctions on buyers of Russian energy under Graham Act

President Donald Trump has decided to suspend new sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports that were to take effect, according to the executive order released on October 16. These restrictions were part of a bill championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which the President signed last month. The potential for 100% tariffs on goods from the five biggest importers of Russian oil and gas was outlined in the legislation.

Trump explained that not applying these sanctions at this time is in the U.S. national interest. He also submitted a certification and a report to Congress detailing the rationale behind his decision. This move comes as U.S.-Ukrainian relations have deteriorated and European allies have expressed concerns over a potential weakening of American support for Kyiv.

The White House has also been urging Ukraine to cease strikes on Russian oil facilities. While Ukraine initially complied with this request, it later resumed its attacks. Russia has continued to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In early April 2025, a bill proposing new sanctions against Russia was introduced in the U.S. Senate, proposing a 500% tariff on imports from countries continuing to purchase Russian oil and other raw materials.

Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) were co-authors of this bill. The Wall Street Journal reported in early April 2025 that the Trump administration was attempting to persuade Graham to modify the bill. Politico journalists also noted that the bill might be substantially altered before it was passed.

On July 11, 2026, Graham unexpectedly passed away, and the following day, Trump signed H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.