Trump Pauses Russia Sanctions, Drawing Backlash

US President Donald Trump has suspended some Russia sanctions two days before they were due to take effect, prompting criticism from lawmakers and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The sanctions were passed by Congress and signed into law in September. Trump’s executive order described the suspension as being in the US national interest, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it would be a 60-day pause to assess the effects of sanctions and tariffs on the global and US economies. The law gave Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, notably China and India. It also targeted senior Russian figures, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet used to evade existing embargoes. Russia welcomed the suspension; envoy Kirill Dmitriev called it a historic moment. Critics in both parties said the decision undermined Congress’s intent and benefited Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican senators Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis voiced objections, while Representative Don Bacon warned that lawmakers could resist funding Trump’s agenda. The decision further strains US-Ukraine relations, already unsettled by a US deal to import Russian diesel and concerns over American military and technical support. Zelensky said the sanctions could have helped pressure Russia to end the war. He pointed to Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities that caused power outages, and warned of efforts to create a blackout before winter. He also said Ukrainian and US negotiators had spoken and could meet the following week. The article describes continuing disputes over an alleged energy ceasefire, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, and restrictions affecting Ukraine’s use of Starlink. Trump has denied deliberately slowing the network or halting intelligence-sharing; Zelensky said Ukraine’s tests suggested the reported Starlink speed problems were not present in Europe. Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes since Friday had killed at least nine people and injured around 60, including casualties in Kherson.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s decision to waive sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia would last 60 days, giving the administration time to assess the measures’ effects on the global and US economies. Rubio argued that restrictions affecting multiple countries must be considered alongside conflicts that are influencing energy prices, including the US war on Iran and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. He said these conflicts were interacting and affecting oil and diesel prices as well as broader economies. Trump described the waiver as a good decision for the United States and the world, although the article notes that it was unclear whether he had firmly settled on the policy. The move drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties after Trump signed an executive order exempting Russia from sanctions and tariffs that Congress had adopted the previous month. Those measures were intended to target Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and to give Trump authority to sanction major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. Their stated purpose was to restrict funding for supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Cruz criticized the decision. Tillis argued that the administration should address the Iran conflict rather than ease pressure on Putin, while Cruz called the waiver a mistake. The order followed an agreement between Trump and Putin allowing Russian diesel exports in exchange for easing sanctions. Rubio said Russian diesel would reach the global market regardless, with the key question being how much would go to the United States, where diesel is important to transport, agriculture and construction. Rising fuel costs are beginning to affect the US economy amid cost-of-living concerns and approaching midterm elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Washington might lift further sanctions and said the move rewards Putin.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s 60-day pause on sweeping sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia would give the administration time to analyse their effects on the global and US economies. Rubio noted that the restrictions would affect multiple countries, and argued that conflicts involving Iran and Yemen were adding pressure to energy prices and economic conditions worldwide. Trump signed an executive order on Oct 16 exempting Russia from measures Congress had adopted in September, shortly before they were due to take effect. The law included sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and authorised sanctions on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. Its stated purpose was to restrict funding for supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war on Ukraine. The decision drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Republican senators Thom Tillis and Ted Cruz called the move irresponsible and a mistake, respectively. Tillis argued that Trump should address the Iran situation rather than ease pressure on Putin. Trump defended the decision as beneficial to the US and the world, though the article says it was unclear whether he had made a final decision about the measures. The pause followed a deal between Trump and Putin allowing Russian diesel exports in exchange for easing sanctions. With higher diesel prices linked to the Iran war affecting the US economy and voters concerned about the cost of living ahead of November’s midterm elections, Rubio said the key question was how much of the fuel would reach the US. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the US might lift further sanctions and said Trump’s action “rewards” Putin.

A Russian presidential envoy described US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend a new package of sanctions on Russia as a “historic moment.” Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions and tariffs aimed at Russian energy revenues on Friday, shortly before they were due to take effect. The decision followed a public clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and has prompted speculation that Trump is increasingly aligning with Moscow, nearly five years into Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy for President Vladimir Putin, said the suspension of the Lindsey Graham Act was significant and argued that the proposed measures would have harmed the US economy and global markets. The legislation targeted Russia’s energy and defence sectors, Putin and other senior officials. The report says the Kremlin and Putin had not yet commented on Trump’s decision, which it characterizes as a diplomatic victory for Russia. It also recalls that Western countries imposed extensive sanctions after Russia launched its invasion in 2022. Separately, the article describes Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Russia carried out an overnight assault on targets including ArcelorMittal’s steelworks in Kryvyi Rih, which had suspended operations in September after earlier missile strikes, and vessels using the port of Odesa. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces also struck electricity infrastructure in Zhytomyr, a steel plant in Zaporizhzhia, a cargo vessel in the Black Sea that it alleged was carrying military supplies, and a vehicle-repair plant in Lutsk. The article reports the ministry’s claims without independent verification in the text.