Trump Waives New Russia Sanctions, Raising Questions About U.S. Support for Ukraine

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last Friday that blocks many new sanctions against Russia. Sanctions are penalties — like trade restrictions and financial limits — that countries use to pressure other governments to change their behavior. The new sanctions were part of a law passed by Congress called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. Trump's decision came just one week after he announced a deal to buy diesel fuel from Russia.

The law that Trump blocked was set to go into effect on October 18. It would have targeted Russian government officials, banks, and other organizations with tough financial penalties. It also would have placed tariffs — extra taxes on imported goods — of up to 100% on countries that buy large amounts of oil or natural gas from Russia. These measures were designed to cut off money that Russia uses to fund its war against Ukraine.

Experts say that international sanctions have already cost Russia a lot of money. Britain's foreign affairs office estimated in June 2025 that sanctions had taken away at least $450 billion from Russia since the war began in February 2022. That money came from lost oil tax income and frozen bank funds. Trump's waiver does not remove the old sanctions, but it stops the new, tougher ones from being added.

Trump has also pressured Ukraine to stop attacking Russia's oil and fuel sites. He has argued that Ukrainian strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure are pushing up gas prices in the United States. However, energy experts say Ukrainian strikes are only one factor. The war with Iran and reduced activity at Russian oil refineries have also helped push up global fuel prices.

On October 11, Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an 'energy ceasefire.' But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had never agreed to any such deal. Russia launched new strikes on Ukrainian energy sites just hours after Trump made his announcement. That same day, Trump also called for Ukraine to remove Zelensky from power, adding more tension between the two countries.

Trump said the main goal of the diesel deal with Russia was to lower fuel prices for Americans before the midterm elections on November 3. Under the deal, Russia agreed to supply more than 4.8 million tons of diesel to global markets. Trump said this would bring diesel prices down dramatically. However, many energy experts are doubtful it will make a big difference for everyday Americans at the gas pump.

Tatiana Mitrova, an energy expert at Columbia University, said the deal might lead to a small short-term drop in wholesale prices. But she said it would likely result in little savings for regular consumers. She also said the broader sanctions waiver might prevent some market instability, but it does not create more oil supply. In her view, the economic benefit to Americans is small compared with the political cost of going easier on Russia.

Jeff Colgan, a professor at Brown University, said Trump's decision is 'like trading [Ukrainian] democracy for diesel.' He added that easing sanctions probably will not move global prices very much because the oil market is so large. However, it could mean a lot of extra money for Russia. In other words, Russia stands to gain far more from this deal than American consumers do.

Beyond fuel prices, experts worry about what the waiver means for Ukraine. Konstantin Sonin, a professor at the University of Chicago, said many world leaders will see this as the U.S. pulling back from Europe. He warned the move could boost morale for Russian President Vladimir Putin and signal that American support for Ukraine is weakening. Mitrova agreed, saying Putin may now believe he can simply wait out Western pressure rather than seek peace.

Zelensky spoke out against the decision on social media, saying: 'It definitely helps only the Russians. It only fuels their satisfaction and their desire to keep killing people. This certainly does not stop the war.' His words reflected the frustration felt by many Ukrainian leaders who depend on Western support to keep fighting Russia.

Trump's order drew strong criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. The Sanctioning Russia Act had passed with huge bipartisan support — 86 to 11 in the Senate and 262 to 159 in the House. Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the decision 'beyond irresponsible.' Republican Senator John Cornyn said the late Senator Lindsey Graham, after whom the law was named, 'would be appalled.'

Trump was legally allowed to block the sanctions through a special provision written into the law. The law included a 'safety valve' letting the president waive the sanctions if he submitted a written statement to Congress explaining why it was in the national interest. Trump said he submitted that statement, but he has not told the public exactly how he believes the move serves America. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.