President Donald Trump waived Russia-related sanctions days before they were set to begin, prompting fierce criticism from members of Congress.
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President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russia days before they were scheduled to take effect, a move that drew outrage from U.S. lawmakers late Friday and on Saturday.
The sanctions were part of a package that Congress had passed by a bipartisan vote, known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act, which had been designed to impose steep tariffs on countries that import large amounts of Russian oil and energy products to reduce the flow of funds supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called the decision “Beyond irresponsible,” and said it was “unconscionable” that the administration was “capitulating to a Russian dictator” who illegally invaded Ukraine.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, referenced the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, saying “Lindsey would be appalled.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump was “thumbing his nose” at Congress and “enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression,” and urged colleagues to take action to reverse course.
Trump said he was waiving the sanctions indefinitely, citing national security concerns, and lawmakers warned they face uncertainty about whether they can challenge the move quickly because the House and Senate were on recess until after Election Day.
The waiver comes as Ukraine braces for winter amid Russia’s ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure used to heat homes and keep the lights on, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters to speak out on behalf of the sanctions.
The immediate controversy also followed Trump’s announcement of a diesel deal with Putin, under which Russia would supply fuel to the United States, an effort Trump framed as a way to address high gas prices.
New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced legislation on Friday aimed at blocking Trump’s diesel deal with Putin, saying in a statement that the deal “goes against everything the United States stands for” and called it “corrupt.”
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