President Donald Trump rebuked Ukraine on Oct. 19 as his waiver of new Russia measures and a separate diesel license drew warnings that easing pressure on Moscow would benefit Russia at Ukraine’s expense.
“They've given nothing to us,” Trump told reporters after describing U.S. support for Ukraine. He said the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and suggested someone else negotiate with Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.
An Oct. 16 executive order waived specified duties, restrictions and sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, citing U.S. national interests. Earlier Russia sanctions imposed under other executive orders remain in place. The waiver has no fixed end date.
Separately, the Treasury Department’s Oct. 9 General License 135 authorizes transactions under two specified sanctions regulations related to the sale, delivery, offloading or importation of Russian-origin diesel, including imports into the United States. It excludes debits to certain Russian government accounts at U.S. financial institutions.
Trump said an arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin over diesel was intended to ease fuel prices. In an Oct. 18 post, Trump said the waiver would help keep Moscow at the negotiating table, as earlier EconoTimes coverage of the sanctions dispute reported.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis criticized the waiver in an Oct. 17 post. He and fellow senators urged Trump to rescind the diesel deal, arguing that Russian sales would help finance the war. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer criticized the waiver in a statement the same day.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an Oct. 17 post that easing pressure on Russia would encourage Putin to keep attacking. The order calls for monitoring but schedules no further decision. The diesel license expires at 12:01 a.m. EDT April 7, 2027.
