# Trump Waives New Russia Sanctions Days Before Implementation

> President Donald Trump paused sweeping new sanctions against Russia, citing national interest, just two days before they were set to take effect.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-17T20:45:05.004821Z
Updated 2026-10-17T20:45:17.375739Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/trump-waives-new-russia-sanctions-days-before-implementation-2ef19629

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, 2026, waiving many restrictions from the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, just two days before the bipartisan sanctions package was set to take effect [2][15]. This decision immediately follows a controversial agreement for Russia to supply global markets with over 300,000 tons of diesel [9][14].

This move by the U.S. president challenges international efforts to impose economic pressure on Russia during its ongoing war against Ukraine. It draws swift condemnation from Ukrainian leadership and bipartisan criticism in Washington, signaling a shift in U.S. policy towards Moscow that could impact global energy markets and the conflict in Eastern Europe.

## What the records show

On October 16, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order that temporarily suspended many provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 [2][9]. The order cited "national interests" and "security concerns" as the basis for the waiver [2][15]. This action came just two days before the sanctions were scheduled to begin on October 18, 2026 [15]. The Graham Act, which President Trump had signed into law a month prior, was designed to apply economic pressure on Russia by limiting the financial resources funding its war in Ukraine [9][15]. The legislation authorized tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, and included provisions for sanctions against Russian officials, financial institutions, and its tanker fleet [15][19]. Congress had included a provision, Section 115, allowing for a national interest waiver, which leaves the overall Act in force while suspending the specific provisions covered by Trump's order [7]. Existing sanctions against Russia from prior executive orders remain in place [7].

## The timeline

The events leading to the waiver unfolded rapidly in October 2026. On October 9, President Trump announced that Russia would "immediately" supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to global markets, with larger quantities to follow [9][14][18]. He attributed this deal to the need to reduce rising global energy prices, particularly for diesel [9][14]. Two days later, on October 11, Trump claimed an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied this, stating it was "news to me" [14]. On October 16, President Trump signed the executive order to waive the new sanctions [2][9].

## What changed and for whom

President Trump's waiver significantly altered the immediate future of U.S. economic pressure on Russia. The sanctions, intended to choke off funding for Russia's war effort, will not take effect as planned [15]. This decision was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called it a "reward" for Russian President Vladimir Putin and warned it would "intensify the Kremlin's war" [4]. Zelenskyy also expressed concern that the "Diesel Deal" could be "the first step" toward lifting more sanctions, including potential "gas deals" [13][20]. European leaders, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, voiced deep concern, with Kallas stating that "putting more pressure on Russia" is the only way to end the war [11][10]. Domestically, the waiver generated "bipartisan backlash" from both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S., who condemned the move for undermining support for Ukraine [5].

## What the subject has said publicly

President Trump has publicly stated his rationale for these actions. He linked the waiver and the diesel deal to the need to lower "soaring global energy prices" [9][14]. He also blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for global diesel shortages and suggested Ukraine needed a "new leader" [14]. The Trump administration is also reportedly presenting these actions as part of a potential peace deal with Ukraine [1].

## What we could not confirm

*   The exact "national security concerns" cited by President Trump for waiving the sanctions [2].
*   Whether the Trump administration has concrete plans for a peace deal with Ukraine beyond pitching the idea [1].
*   The specific long-term impact on global energy prices or the war in Ukraine from the diesel deal and sanctions waiver.

## Evidence cited
1. U.S. Floats Lifeline to Russia: Allowing More Gas Sales to Europe (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/17/us/politics/russia-gas-trump.html
2. Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr5yvzv7rp0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
3. Trump 'completely wrong' to restrict support for Ukraine, Italian minister tells BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c64g18ljjd8do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
4. Trump’s pause on Russia sanctions is ‘reward’ for Putin, Zelenskyy says (www.theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-lift-sanctions-russia-intensify-war-ukraine
5. Trump faces bipartisan backlash over Russia sanctions waiver (www.aljazeera.com) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/17/trump-faces-bipartisan-backlash-over-russia-sanctions-waiver?traffic_source=rss
6. Trump’s Deal With Russia Inflames Ukraine War He Vowed to End (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/politics/trump-russia-ukraine.html
7. Congress expressly authorized the national interest waiver under Section 115, leaving the Graham Act in force while suspending the provisions covered by Trump's order. (lawcommentary.com) — https://lawcommentary.com/
8. Ukraine's Zelenskyy urged support for Russia sanctions after Trump paused new restrictions as Russian strikes targeted energy sites ahead of winter. (wthr.com) — https://wthr.com/
9. President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to board Air Force One, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. (triblive.com) — https://triblive.com/
10. European and British officials have expressed deep concern following President Donald Trump's announcement of an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase Russian diesel fuel, a move that directly challenges long-standing international sanctions. (plataformamedia.com) — https://plataformamedia.com/
11. Europe's Reaction (industrialinfo.com) — https://industrialinfo.com/
12. HU SAYS · IN-DEPTH · LIFE · Cultural Influencer · Attitudes · Culture · Entertainment · Travel · WORLD · Diplomatic Community · SPORT · Brasil 247 · VIDEO · Got-to-watch · I-Talk · Z-Talk · PHOTO · Gallery · China · World · Biz · Sport · INFOGRAPHIC · CARTOON. WORLD / AMERICAS. European leaders question Trump's Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire. By Xinhua Published: Oct 13, 2026 08:54 AM. This photo taken on Sept. 17, 2026 shows smoke rising after a drone and missile attack in Kiev, Ukraine. Twelv (globaltimes.cn) — https://globaltimes.cn/
13. Zelenskyy believes that lifting sanctions against Russia will continue (pravda.com.ua) — https://pravda.com.ua/
14. Trump Claims Ukraine-Russia 'Energy Ceasefire,' Zelensky Calls It 'News to Me' (time.com) — https://time.com/
15. Trump Waives Key Russia Sanctions Passed By Congress (rferl.org) — https://rferl.org/
16. Trump Waives Key Russia Sanctions Days Before They Take Effect (themoscowtimes.com) — https://themoscowtimes.com/
17. Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Law Signed Last Month as Diesel Prices Climb - Northeast Times (northeasttimes.com) — https://northeasttimes.com/
18. US Waives Russia Sanctions Days Before Deadline (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/
19. Trump waives new Russia sanctions, deepening alarm among European allies - CNN (cnn.com) — https://cnn.com/
20. 'Gas deals will follow' — Zelensky warns Trump could ease more sanctions on Russia (kyivindependent.com) — https://kyivindependent.com/
21. 'Obvious weakness': Zelenskyy criticizes Trump-Putin diesel deal over lack of de-escalation (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/
22. Trump accuses Europe of hypocrisy after backlash for lifting sanctions against Russia for diesel exports (yahoo.com) — https://yahoo.com/
23. Trump's Diesel Deal With Russia (cfr.org) — https://cfr.org/
24. The Washington Post: U.S. and Europe are developing a new plan to end the Russia–Ukraine war, offering incentives and security arrangements in exchange for a ceasefire along the current front line. (meduza.io) — https://meduza.io/
25. US-Europe peace plan floats new Russia-Europe energy pipeline (hamerintel.com) — https://hamerintel.com/
26. Trump-Putin diesel deal sparks new crisis with Ukraine (axios.com) — https://axios.com/