President Donald Trump has defended waiving new Russia sanctions and tariffs to preserve Ukraine peace talks, while Kyiv says the decision risks encouraging more Russian attacks.
Trump’s Oct. 16 order waived specified sanctions, restrictions and additional import duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed Sept. 18. The order specified an additional 500% duty on Russian goods. It also set out 100% additional duties on goods from countries among the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas if they make new purchases starting Oct. 18, and from countries among the five largest facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion. Those duties were waived, while the order preserved identified Russia-related executive-order measures as they stood before the act.
Trump said imposing the new measures could push Russia away from negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump wanted 60 days to assess what imposing the sanctions and tariffs would mean for the U.S. and global economies. The order gives no end date; Trump or the secretary of state can revisit the waiver under its consultation rules.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that reduced pressure could lead to more Russian attacks. “Pressure is needed to stop this,” he wrote. His office said he spoke with U.S. envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Oct. 18 about a meeting of their teams in Florida. The office separately said further diplomatic steps were being prepared.
The dispute also covers a separate Treasury Department license issued Oct. 9 that permits specified transactions involving Russian-origin diesel, including U.S. imports. Six Republican and six Democratic senators urged Trump on Oct. 13 to withdraw that arrangement and implement the act’s sanctions. They said the license could help finance Russia’s war while doing little to lower U.S. fuel costs.
In the same Oct. 18 post, Trump defended the diesel policy and criticized Zelenskyy. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the diesel measure “a carrot to try to end a war” and said additional supply could lower energy prices. Neither outcome is established by the license.
The order requires regular monitoring of Russian oil and gas purchases and sanctions evasion but sets no date for another waiver decision. The diesel license runs through 12:01 a.m. EDT April 7, 2027.
