Trump waives several Russia sanctions as new US law takes effect

In a move that has sparked controversy, US President Donald Trump has utilized his presidential powers to waive certain sanctions against Russia, despite a new US law that was enacted in September. The sanctions, which were meant to penalize Russia for its involvement in Ukraine, were blocked by Trump in an executive order on Friday night, citing that it is in the US "national interests" to refrain from imposing all of them.

The sanctions bill was signed into law by Trump in September, and was set to take effect on Sunday. This act comes after Trump announced plans to import Russian diesel in a bid to reduce US energy prices ahead of the November midterm elections, a decision that has drawn criticism from lawmakers and triggered a bipartisan backlash.

The US sanctions law, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, aimed to target Russia's economy and granted Trump the authority to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, with China and India being the most significant. The law also included sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, key government officials, banks, and financial institutions, as well as Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers.

A bipartisan group of 20 US lawmakers had previously written to Trump urging him to fully implement the law, stating that its enforcement would be crucial in pressuring Putin to engage in meaningful peace talks. They applauded Trump for signing the sanctions bill but urged for its "full and faithful implementation" without delay.

Trump's decision to waive some of these sanctions has raised concerns among US allies, particularly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused the US of providing a "gift to Putin" and contributing to a war that must be brought to an end.