Ukraine President Zelenskyy criticizes US decision to waive major parts of Russia sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly criticized the White House for waiving key parts of a new U.S. sanctions package aimed at limiting Russia's war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated on social media that the decision is wrong and only helps Russia continue its attacks.

The Executive Order

President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Friday to waive these core provisions, just two days before the law was set to go into effect. Trump stated in his order that issuing the waiver serves the national interests of the United States. The original legislation, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was introduced over a year ago and signed into law by Trump on September 18 after passing the House on September 16.

Specific Rules Waived

The law would have forced the president to raise duties on all Russian goods brought into the U.S. by up to 500 percent within 30 days. It also required tariffs of up to 100 percent on top buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. Friday's order drops these specific rules, though previous sanctions from older executive orders remain active.

Reactions and Wider Impact

Kirill Dmitriev, an economy envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised the suspension as a historic moment. However, U.S. opponents like Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the waiver. The decision follows a recent temporary waiver on Russian diesel exports through April 2027 and comes ahead of U.S. midterm elections on November 3.

Context

Sanctions are economic penalties placed by one country on another to change its behavior, often by restricting trade or financial transactions. In conflicts, such measures are frequently used to cut off the revenue that governments rely on to fund military operations. Such policy decisions often balance foreign policy goals with domestic economic concerns like fuel prices.