President Trump on Friday signed an executive order calling off the imposition of new sanctions on Russia.
The waived sanctions, authorized by the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, were crafted to target Russia’s energy sector.
Mr. Trump declined to implement the bill’s provisions to increase tariffs on Russian goods, including energy, by up to 500%.
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He also waived the bill’s provision to apply tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that buy Russian energy, such as China and India.
Friday’s order follows the president’s announcement that he will allow millions of tons of Russian diesel into the American market.
The Graham Act lets the president waive sanctions if he sends Congress a written explanation of how the move is in the national interest.
The order also waives sanctions on foreigners affiliated with Russia’s government, energy sector and financial institutions.
It maintains sanctions implemented in previous executive orders.
Mr. Trump signed the bill into law in September. It’s named for the South Carolina senator who died in July.
Senate Ukraine supporters criticized the president’s waiver, which they said was a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“Beyond irresponsible,” wrote Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina Republican, on social media. “If the President wants to actually bring down energy prices, he can do it by solving the Iran problem, not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, similarly said, “Donald Trump confirms again that he stands on the side of a bloodthirsty thug and the enablers of Russia’s war machine.”
He added, “These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin.”
Tensions have increased between Mr. Trump and the Ukrainian government.
He has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the continued conflict and criticized his strikes on Russian diesel refineries, which he says have driven up fuel prices.
“I think it’s time forUkraine to get a new president,” Mr. Trump told reporters recently.
He has also asked both sides to observe an “energy ceasefire,” but they have kept targeting each other’s energy sectors.
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