President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday suspending major sanctions and tariffs against Russia that were scheduled to take effect Saturday under legislation he signed in mid-September.
The move exempts Russia from key provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named after the late Republican senator. Trump stated in the executive order that he had submitted formal notification to Congress that the waiver was in the national interest of the United States.
The suspended measures included tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, sanctions targeting Russian government officials and state enterprises, and restrictions on the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions. The law also targeted Russia's energy and defense sectors.
Trump signed the Graham Act in mid-September after Congress passed it with bipartisan support. The legislation was designed to increase pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine. Under the law's terms, sanctions were set to take effect 30 days after the president's signature unless he decided otherwise within that window. Trump's executive order came days before the deadline expired.
Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev characterized the suspension as a "truly historic moment" in a statement on social media Saturday. Dmitriev, who serves as Putin's special representative for international economic cooperation, said the Graham Act could have effectively halted all economic interaction between Russia and the United States and caused serious damage to the American economy and global markets. He argued that economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington serves the interests of both countries and contributes to global economic stability.
The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has publicly criticized Zelenskyy and suggested Ukraine needs new leadership. Zelenskyy said Saturday that suspending the sanctions would only encourage Putin to continue the war. He warned that additional sanctions relief would likely follow, calling the diesel deal Trump announced last week "just the first step."
The suspension follows Trump's announcement last week of a controversial agreement with Russia to purchase hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel, with existing sanctions temporarily suspended to facilitate the deal. Trump cited efforts to reduce global fuel prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized Trump's decision, saying the president was effectively supporting Putin and those assisting Russia's military operations. The move has drawn concern from European allies over weakening U.S. support for Ukraine in its nearly five-year conflict with Russia, which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
The White House stated that existing sanctions on Russia remain in place despite the suspension of the new measures.