Trump waives tariffs and sanctions on major Russian oil buyers

President Trump invoked a waiver provision in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act to stop 100% tariffs on the world’s five biggest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas from taking effect on Sunday. The executive order, sent to Congress, also suspended 500% tariffs on Russian goods and paused additional sanctions, with the waivers remaining until officials determine further action is needed.

Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised the suspension as “an important and truly historic moment” in a social-media post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decision “unfortunate,” saying the Graham Act could have helped Ukraine’s energy sector.

The Graham Act, championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, targeted large buyers such as China, India, Turkey and the European Union. The waivers follow a week after Trump eased restrictions on Russian diesel and announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the United States.

Congressional leaders have criticized the move, with a bipartisan group of senators describing the diesel waivers as a “betrayal of the people of Ukraine” and urging enforcement of the law’s sanctions and tariffs.