Trump signs order easing Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 20, 2026 in Washington that temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil and eased satellite-communication restrictions, stating the move was intended to curb rising fuel prices. The order followed a series of actions that began on October 16, when Trump delayed a bipartisan sanctions package, citing national interest amid heightened tensions with Ukraine. He later suspended new sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas buyers, a step condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several members of Congress. Critics in the Senate and the House argued the waiver could benefit Vladimir Putin.
The White House justified the temporary lift of Russian diesel restrictions as a means to provide price relief for consumers, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the waiver was meant to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine. Trump also accused Zelenskyy of reluctance to pursue peace, and the Wall Street Journal editorialized that the order undermined U. S. and allied security.