Trump waived Graham Act sanctions two days before they were due. Some lawmakers and Zelenskyy criticized the decision.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving sanctions and tariffs on Russia required under a law named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, two days before they were due to take effect on Oct. 18.
The decision drew criticism Saturday from members of both parties in Congress and from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which Trump signed in September, would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, and from countries that knowingly bought it after a 30-day deadline or helped Russia evade sanctions, Reuters reported. The law lets the president waive the measures by telling Congress it is in the national interest.
The order did not say why the waiver serves the national interest and stays in effect until the administration decides “further action is appropriate,” CNN reported. It does not lift sanctions already imposed on Russia, ABC News reported, but it gives the administration wider room to decide which to keep without being bound by the law’s requirements. Fox Business said Trump retains the power to reinstate the measures.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, called the waiver an “important and truly historic moment.” Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, said it betrays Ukraine’s partners and defies congressional intent. China has said it opposes the law’s reach, and India warned that new tariffs could affect relations with Washington.
Lawmakers who had passed the legislation by wide margins voiced outrage Saturday. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called the waiver irresponsible and noted the Senate approved the law 86-11. He said that if Trump wants lower energy prices, he should resolve the Iran war rather than help Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Graham would have been appalled. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the move gives Russia’s economy life support, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is disregarding Congress and urged colleagues to act. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who opposed the bill, welcomed the waiver.
The Associated Press reported that Congress is unlikely to be able to challenge the waiver until lawmakers return to Washington. A bipartisan group of senators had urged the administration last week to move faster against the “shadow fleet” of tankers Russia uses to move oil around sanctions.
Zelenskyy said Saturday the decision appeared wrong and helps only Russia. He called it unfortunate and said the law could have helped enormously, in a post about the aftermath of an attack on Ukraine’s energy sector. He said he hoped the sanctions could be revived. He also thanked Democrats and Republicans who backed the legislation and praised Graham.
The waiver follows a week in which Trump announced a diesel deal with Putin that temporarily eased sanctions on Russian fuel, said Ukraine should get a new president and announced an energy ceasefire that Zelenskyy says Russia has violated.
This report is based on information from Reuters, ABC News, CNN, Fox Business, The Hill, The Associated Press, The Washington Post, NBC News and CBS News.