Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Just Before They Were Due to Begin
Washington’s tough line on Russian trade was supposed to tighten this weekend. Instead, President Trump has pulled the brakes. His executive order, issued on Friday, October 16, suspends the sanctions, restrictions and duties that the Graham Act would have brought into force on October 18, 2026.
What the Graham Act Would Have Done
The law, which Trump signed on September 18, was built to squeeze Russia’s economy and punish those who help it get around existing restrictions. Its main provisions were steep tariffs:
- A 500% tariff on goods imported into the United States from Russia
- A 100% tariff on goods from the five biggest facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion
- A 100% tariff on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and natural gas, applying if they knowingly made new purchases on or after October 18, 2026
Those penalties would have reached well beyond Russia itself, putting pressure on countries that keep Russian energy flowing.
How the Waiver Works
The act gives the president room to waive any of its sanctions provisions. There are conditions, though. He must send Congress a written certification that the waiver serves America’s national interests, along with a report explaining why.
In the order, Trump said he was waiving the application of the sanctions, restrictions and duties in the Graham Act, and confirmed that he had submitted the required certification to Congress, stating that issuing the waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.
A Widening Rift With Kyiv
The timing is hard to miss. Earlier this week, Trump described Zelensky as “not a good guy,” and relations between the two men are now at their lowest point in months.
The tension grew after Trump announced he had spoken with Putin and secured an agreement on Russian diesel. In a Truth Social post, he said Russia would immediately send more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global markets, followed by another 500,000 tons during November and 1,000,000 tons soon after. He added that, given the state of Russia’s refineries, a further 3,000,000 tons would be delivered within a short period.
Trump framed the deal as a win for ordinary Americans. Lowering prices, particularly for farmers, ranchers and truckers, he wrote, was his greatest priority.
Zelensky’s Response
The Ukrainian leader did not take it well. He accused Trump of handing the Kremlin a “gift” and of helping to prolong the war. In a social media post, Zelensky argued the arrangement works in Russia’s favor, letting it kill more people, fight longer, hold America in even lower regard, and cause greater damage to the world.
What Comes Next
With the sanctions waived, the planned tariffs will not take effect on the original timeline. Whether Congress pushes back on the certification remains to be seen. For now, the decision signals a clear shift in tone from Washington, and it leaves Kyiv increasingly uneasy about where US policy is heading.
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