Trump Issues Order to Lift New Sanctions and Tariffs on Russia

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that removes new sanctions and tariffs on Russia’s energy sector. This decision comes after he had previously signed these measures into law last month.

The sanctions were part of the Lindsey Graham Act, named after the late US senator who sponsored the bill. This law gave Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

In his executive order, Trump stated, “I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act.” The sanctions targeted various parts of Russia’s economy, including its energy and defense sectors, as well as senior officials like President Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s decision to lift these sanctions follows a controversial agreement he made with Putin. This deal allows Russia to export diesel fuel in exchange for relief from US sanctions.

Since the announcement of this deal, relations between Ukraine and the United States have become strained. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the move as a “weak decision,” and Ukrainian forces have resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries.