# Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Amid Ukraine Tensions and Diesel Deal

> President Donald Trump used an executive order to indefinitely waive new, stringent sanctions on Russia and its energy sector, drawing condemnation and raising questions about U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-18T23:59:38.301421Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-ukraine-tensions-and-diesel-deal-fba7f230

US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on October 16, 2026, indefinitely waiving significant sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, just two days before the legislation was to take effect [1][12][15]. This decision followed President Trump's October 9 announcement of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply diesel to US and global markets, committing to over 300,000 tons immediately and potentially up to 3 million tons per month [10][11].

This series of actions by the US administration directly impacts American foreign policy, global energy markets, and Ukraine's military situation, sparking widespread debate and criticism from allies and lawmakers.

## The Sanctions Waiver and Diesel Deal

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, ratified on September 18, aimed to impose severe tariffs and restrictions on Russia's energy sector and on countries importing Russian oil and gas [13][16]. These measures included potential additional tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods [13][16]. President Trump's executive order, citing "national security" concerns, suspended these new restrictions, including those on Russian financial institutions and energy transactions [1][13][16]. This prevented the immediate implementation of substantial new economic pressures Congress intended [13].

The diesel deal, announced a week prior, involved Russia partially lifting its own diesel export ban on October 10 [10][11]. To facilitate this, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 135, temporarily suspending sanctions on Russian diesel deliveries until April 7, 2027 [10][11]. President Trump stated the rationale was to reduce escalating US fuel prices, which had reached an average of $6.18 per gallon [10][11].

## Starshield Disruptions and Reactions

Between October 12 and 14, Ukrainian military forces reported sudden difficulties with Starshield, a military version of the Starlink satellite internet service, experiencing speed limits that disrupted drone operations and air defenses [6][7][9]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed these restrictions were a "planned operation" and a "message from the American government" [6][9]. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated on X that Starshield systems are "owned and controlled by the US government," and "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS" [5]. However, US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, denied deliberate involvement, attributing disruptions to technical problems [5][24]. Bessent labeled Zelenskyy's accusations as "reckless" [24].

President Zelenskyy strongly condemned both the diesel deal and the sanctions waiver, calling the latter a "mistake" that "definitely helps only the Russians" [8][22]. He called the diesel agreement a "weak one" that "plays into Russia's hands" [22][23]. Conversely, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the waiver as "an important and truly historic moment" [26]. The sanctions waiver triggered widespread outrage among US lawmakers from both parties, who criticized Trump's actions as "reckless," "irresponsible," and a "gift to Vladimir Putin" [14][27].

## What we could not confirm

Whether the Starshield disruptions were deliberately ordered by the US government to send a message to Ukraine [5][6][9].

## Evidence cited
1. 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
2. Zelenskyy thanks Trump for resumed intelligence sharing after US Starlink ‘message’ (www.theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/killed-injured-russia-ukraine-strikes-power-infrastructure
3. Zelensky Says Trump Risks ‘Historic Mistake’ If He Backs Russia (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/18/world/europe/ukraine-starshield-russia-war.html
4. Watch: Will Ukraine get the support needed as tensions with US rise? (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cm2ke1v8e4geo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
5. Trump and Musk Deny Involvement in Starlink Disruptions Over Ukraine — https://united24media.com/trump-and-musk-deny-involvement-in-starlink-disruptions-over-ukraine-5095
6. Ukraine's Zelenskyy: Starshield Speed Restrictions Are a 'Message From the American Government' (CBS News) — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-zelenskyy-starshield-speed-restrictions-drones-trump-russia-war-60-minutes/
7. Ukraine and the U.S. Are at Odds Over Starshield: Here's What to Know — https://www.kmuw.org/2026-10-18/ukraine-and-the-u-s-are-at-odds-over-starshield-heres-what-to-know
8. Zelenskyy Slams Trump's Decision to Waive Russia Sanctions as 'Mistake' — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/16/7424424/
9. Zelenskyy frames Starlink restrictions as 'betrayal' by Trump and US (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/zelenskyy-frames-starlink-restrictions-as-betrayal-by-trump-and-us
10. Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal and Starlink Dispute Send New Shockwaves Through Ukraine War (Council on Foreign Relations) — https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-russia-diesel-deal-and-starlink-dispute-send-new-shockwaves-through-ukraine-war
11. US-Russia Diesel Fuel Agreement — https://kureansiklopedi.com/wiki/US-Russia_Diesel_Fuel_Agreement
12. Trump Waives Russia Sanctions, Sparking Outrage and Concerns About US-Ukraine Policy (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) — https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/93433
13. Trump’s Diesel Deal With Moscow Rattles Allies and Lawmakers (The Moscow Times) — https://themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/trumps-diesel-deal-with-moscow-rattles-allies-and-lawmakers-a93591
14. Trump’s decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seen (PBS NewsHour) — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-decision-to-waive-russian-sanctions-outrages-congress-but-no-quick-counter-seen
15. Trump waives Russia sanctions, Graham Act (Axios) — https://www.axios.com/2026/10/18/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-graham-act
16. The Graham Act Sanctions Waiver and US-Russia Relations — https://www.diplomacyandlaw.com/2026/10/17/the-graham-act-sanctions-waiver-and-us-russia-relations/
17. Trump's Russia sanctions waiver draws fierce condemnation (The Washington Post) — https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/18/trump-russia-sanctions-waiver-zelensky-condemnation/
18. US: Trump Waives Russia Sanctions After Diesel Deal — https://iranintl.com/en/2026/10/17/us-trump-waives-russia-sanctions-after-diesel-deal/
19. Trump suspends new Russia sanctions package, citing ‘national interest’ (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/trump-suspends-new-russia-sanctions-package-citing-national-interest
20. Trump's Russia Sanctions Waiver and Ukraine Diesel Deal (TIME) — https://time.com/6262423/trump-russia-sanctions-waiver-ukraine-diesel-deal/
21. Trump waives Russia sanctions, drawing bipartisan condemnation (CNN) — https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/17/politics/trump-waives-russia-sanctions/index.html
22. Zelensky slams Trump's suspension of Russia sanctions, warns 'historic mistake' — https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/zelensky-slams-trump-s-suspension-of-russia-sanctions,-warns
23. Ukrainian president criticizes US-Russia diesel agreement, warns easing sanctions could lead to broader deals (Anadolu Agency) — https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/ukrainian-president-criticizes-us-russia-diesel-agreement-warns-easing-sanctions-could-lead-to-broader-deals/3020612
24. Bessent calls Zelenskyy's Starlink accusation 'reckless' amid strains over US support (Seeking Alpha) — https://seekingalpha.com/news/4006698-bessent-calls-zelenskyys-starlink-accusation-reckless-amid-strains-over-us-support
25. Zelenskyy Slams Trump for Waiving Russia Sanctions, Citing 'Mistake' (Kyiv Post) — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/43110
26. Trump's Russia sanctions waiver draws international criticism (The Hindu) — https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-russia-crude-deal-trump-sanctions-waiver/article68761066.ece
27. Meeks Statement on Trump Waiving Russia Sanctions (House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats) — https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2026/10/meeks-statement-on-trump-waiving-russia-sanctions
28. (October 17 2026) In an executive order on Friday, the US president said he was waiving many ⁠sanctions, restrictions and duties ⁠on Russia, in a move that comes as he has been publicly criticising ⁠Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a ​new leader. The move was greeted by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who wrote on social media: “The Trump administration's suspension of the Graham Act is an important and truly historic moment.” Trump sig (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/in-an-executive-order-on-friday-the-us-president-said-he-was-waiving-many-sanctions-restrictions-and-duties-on-russia-in-a-move-that-comes-as-he-has-been-publicly-criticising-ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-including-suggesting-that-ukraine-needs-a-new-leader-the-move-was-greeted-by-russian-presidential-envoy-kirill-dmitriev-who-wrote-on-social-media-the-trump-administrations-suspension-of-the-graham-act-is-an-important-and-truly-historic-moment-trump-signed-the-legislation-last-month-after-congress-passed-the-measure-in-an-act-of-rare-bipartisan-agreement
29. Trump’s Diesel Deal With Moscow Rattles Allies and Lawmakers (The Moscow Times) — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/trumps-diesel-deal-with-moscow-rattles-allies-and-lawmakers-a93591
30. WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that Washington was considering Ukraine's request for access to Starshield, a military satellite communications system, while rejecting allegations that the United States deliberately disrupted Starlink services used by Ukrainian forces. "It's not at this moment available to Ukraine, and that's under conversation," Rubio said, clarifying that Starshield is separate from Starlink, the commercial satellite internet service. Both systems  (saudigazette.com.sa) — https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/663806
31. Russian President Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev hails Trump's decision to waive sanctions as 'truly historic moment' (indiatimes.com) — https://indiatimes.com/
32. Trump Waives Russia Sanctions, Putin Envoy Hails 'Historic Moment' (turkiyetoday.com) — https://turkiyetoday.com/
33. Russia hails Trump's decision to waive sanctions as 'historic', Ukraine worried (economictimes.com) — https://economictimes.com/
34. US: Trump waives Russia sanctions after diesel deal (shafaq.com) — https://shafaq.com/
35. Trump blocking Russia sanctions a 'historic moment': Putin envoy (trtworld.com) — https://trtworld.com/
36. Treasury Secretary Bessent Criticizes Zelenskyy's Starlink Claims (seekingalpha.com) — https://seekingalpha.com/
37. Bessent Warns Zelenskyy to Be Careful Over Claims U.S. Is Throttling Starlink (binance.com) — https://binance.com/
38. US Treasury Secretary Bessent rejects Zelenskyy's allegations (operativmm.az) — https://operativmm.az/
39. US Secretary of State denies ordering Starlink slowdown in Ukraine (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/
40. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Warns Zelenskyy to 'Be Careful' About Claims of US Throttling Starlink (reddit.com) — https://reddit.com/
41. Marco Rubio Denies White House Ordered Starlink Slowdown in Ukraine (newsweek.com) — https://newsweek.com/
42. US denies limiting satellite internet to Ukrainian drones, Rubio clarifies on Starlink and Starshield (thestatesman.com) — https://thestatesman.com/
43. No one at White House ordered Starlink slowdown in Ukraine: Marco Rubio (aninews.in) — https://aninews.in/
44. US denies deliberately disrupting Starlink services in Ukraine (saudigazette.com.sa) — https://saudigazette.com.sa/