Europe shielded China, India over Russia oil: US

The United States has defended its decision to grant a 60-day waiver on sanctions against Russia and tariffs on other countries, including India and China, amid widespread criticism. The waiver, implemented under President Trump's Executive Order, gives the administration the flexibility to assess the global impact of the measure. However, the waiver did not extend to India and China, prompting questions about why the US should bear the burden alone.

The waiver was part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which received overwhelming bipartisan support. Senate Majority Whip Marco Rubio stated that the waivers were included in the Graham Act to analyze various global situations, such as energy supply pressures due to the Iran war, the Houthi attack in Saudi Arabia, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Rubio suggested that the US and its allies would benefit from a 60-day period to analyze the consequences of imposing both sanctions and tariffs, both on the global and US economies.

Trump defended his decision, stating that it would be beneficial for the country and the world. He accused European nations of fueling Russia's war on Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil and gas, and accused them of financing the Russian war machine. The US imports approximately $4 billion worth of Russian products annually, with $1.8 billion going towards fertilizers. In contrast, European nations import more than 10 times that amount.

Republicans and Democrats criticized Trump's decision, with some accusing him of undermining Congress's authority and abandoning Ukraine. Indian-American lawmakers, many of whom had voted against the Graham Act, expressed their discontent with Trump's decision, stating that it amounted to undermining Congress's authority and abandoning Ukraine.