Donald Trump decided to suspend the implementation of a broad package of new sanctions against Russia by signing on Friday (October 16) an executive order in which he invoked the national interest of the United States.
The decision comes just one month after the U.S. president himself signed the relevant law and follows Washington’s controversial agreement with Moscow to supply largequantities of Russian diesel, with the aim of keeping international energy prices in check. This development raises questions about the U.S. government’s stance toward Russia, as the war in Ukraine continues.
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A “hold” on the sanctions he himself had approved in September
The new executive order suspends the implementation of a series of economic measures provided for in the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” which Trump had signed on September 18.
The legislation, named after the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, was passed with broad bipartisan majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Its primary goal was to limit the financial resources that allow Moscow to continue its military operations against Ukraine through stricter sanctions and trade restrictions.
The Trump administration had maintained a low profile following the passage of the bill, despite pressure from members of Congress and the Senate and calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to strengthen economic measures against Russia.
With his decision, the U.S. president is invoking a provision of the law that allows him to suspend specific sanctions, provided he certifies in writing to Congress that doing so serves U.S. national interests.
The suspension applies to the new sanctions and tariffs under this specific law and does not automatically lift pre-existing U.S. sanctions against Russia.
The executive order also stipulates that the exemptions may remain in effect until otherwise decided by the president or the relevant U.S. authorities.
The Trump–Putin Agreement on Millions of Metric Tons of Russian Diesel
The decision coincides with Trump’s announcement, one week earlier, that the United States had reached an agreement with Russia on the supply of diesel.
The U.S. president had announced on social media that he had spoken by phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in a conversation during which a suspected case of plague in Russia was also expected to be discussed.
However, energy cooperation took center stage in the announcement that followed.
According to Trump, Moscow agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel, while the agreement provides for additional deliveries in the coming months.
Specifically, the U.S. president presented a timeline that includes an additional 500,000 metric tons in November, another million metric tons immediately afterward, and another three million metric tons shortly thereafter.
Washington presented the agreement as an effort to curb high fuel prices and ease pressure on international energy markets.
It sparked, however, backlash, as boosting Russian energy exports could provide Moscow with additional revenue at a time when Ukraine is trying to cut off the financial resources funding the war.
The recent energy rapprochement between the U.S. and Russia has already sparked bipartisan criticism in Congress, with American lawmakers calling for continued pressure on Moscow.
Lindsey Graham’s Sister and the Battle for the Senate
This development is also of particular political interest in South Carolina, where legislation on sanctions against Russia has been at the center of the election campaign.
Following the sudden death of Lindsey Graham in July, his sister, Darlene Graham, was appointed to serve out the remainder of his Senate term and is now running for election to the office.
The Republican candidate, who has secured Trump’s support and is expected to make joint campaign appearances with him in South Carolina next week, has highlighted the passage of the law as a key part of her campaign.
In a televised debate last Sunday in Columbia with Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, she stated that she was “very proud” to have contributed to the passage of the legislation.
At the same time, she acknowledged that the final decision on whether to impose sanctions rests with the U.S. president.
“The law gives the president tools he can use, if he chooses, to end the war through economic sanctions,” Graham said.
“So, it’s up to him whether he wants to use them or choose a different course of action. I believe, however, that the goal is to lower gas prices and ultimately end the war. And when the war ends, gas prices will go down,” she added.
Economic Pressures and the New Balance of Power in U.S.-Russia Relations
Trump’s decision comes at a time when the U.S. government is trying to address high energy prices, particularly ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
At the same time, the suspension of new sanctions represents a significant shift in the implementation of U.S. policy of economic pressure on Moscow, though it does not mean that all measures imposed in response to the war in Ukraine are being lifted.
The new executive order allows the administration to retain the sanctions as a tool available for future use, while for the time being it has chosen not to activate a large portion of the additional restrictions.
This choice also highlights the differing approaches between lawmakers, who are seeking to exert stricter economic pressure on Russia, and the administration, which is now placing particular emphasis on energy cooperation and keeping fuel prices in check.
Source: Proto Thema
