President Donald Trump has signed an executive order waiving a sanctions package against Russia. The president cited us national interests in the decision, which has drawn criticism from Ukraine and some American lawmakers.
The order concerns the legislation known as the Lindsey Graham Act, which Trump signed into law last month. The bill, supported by Graham before his death in July, includes tariffs and sanctions targeting Russian exports and Russian political and military leaders in an effort to pressure the country in its war against Ukraine. Trump’s waiver came just two days before the measures were scheduled to take effect.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump’s order stated, without providing further details about the national interests behind the decision.
The move prompted criticism from Republican lawmakers, including Senator John Cornyn, who said that “Lindsey would be appalled.” Senator Thom Tillis called it "beyond irresponsible.”
“It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day,” Tillis wrote on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also criticized the decision in a post on X Saturday, pointing to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“It is important that our European partners have already prepared new support packages for Ukraine. I am grateful to them for this. And it is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening,” Zelensky wrote. "At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end. This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.”
“Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine – right before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this. A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking,” Zelensky added.
Trump’s decision follows an announcement made earlier this month that the US would import diesel from Russia in an effort to lower energy costs.
The order concerns the legislation known as the Lindsey Graham Act, which Trump signed into law last month. The bill, supported by Graham before his death in July, includes tariffs and sanctions targeting Russian exports and Russian political and military leaders in an effort to pressure the country in its war against Ukraine. Trump’s waiver came just two days before the measures were scheduled to take effect.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump’s order stated, without providing further details about the national interests behind the decision.
The move prompted criticism from Republican lawmakers, including Senator John Cornyn, who said that “Lindsey would be appalled.” Senator Thom Tillis called it "beyond irresponsible.”
“It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day,” Tillis wrote on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also criticized the decision in a post on X Saturday, pointing to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“It is important that our European partners have already prepared new support packages for Ukraine. I am grateful to them for this. And it is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening,” Zelensky wrote. "At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end. This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.”
“Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine – right before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this. A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking,” Zelensky added.
Trump’s decision follows an announcement made earlier this month that the US would import diesel from Russia in an effort to lower energy costs.
