US President Donald Trump has suspended the tariffs and punitive measures provided for in the sanctions law against Russia shortly before they were due to take effect. According to a decree published on Friday (local time), the measures are on hold until further notice, reports der SPIEGEL. Trump justified the step by saying that such a suspension was “at this point in time in the national interest” of the USA.
The law, named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, was signed by Trump in mid-September after it had received a bipartisan majority in Congress. It provided that the sanctions and tariffs would automatically take effect 30 days after signing – unless the president decided otherwise within that period. According to the Guardian, Trump had until 18 October to impose or suspend the sanctions and tariffs; he suspended the measures shortly before that deadline expired.
Tariffs of up to 100 per cent were meant to put pressure on Moscow
In addition to direct sanctions against Russian politicians, banks and companies, the law also provides for punitive measures against Russian oil and gas exports, with which Moscow finances its war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Guardian, it is also directed against a “shadow fleet” of tankers that keeps Russian energy supplies going.
The core of the package is tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or gas, as ORF reports. In addition, states that help Russia most in circumventing existing energy sanctions were to be targeted. The Guardian cites an exemption for countries that take less than 15 per cent of Russian gas exports and have demonstrably taken steps to reduce these imports. This could strain US trade relations with China and India, which purchase large quantities of Russian crude oil. India, one of the largest buyers, had expressed concerns about the law, according to ORF.
According to SPIEGEL and zdfheute.de, many Democrats had criticised that the draft law gives Trump too much room for manoeuvre in imposing or suspending sanctions.
Diesel deal with Putin and growing pressure on Kyiv
The decision comes at a time when Trump is expanding economic contacts with Moscow while at the same time increasing pressure on Ukraine. A few days ago, despite existing sanctions, he agreed with the Kremlin on the supply of Russian diesel. Russia would immediately make more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel available to the USA and the world market, Trump had announced; existing sanctions would be suspended for this purpose.
Trump hopes thereby to lower the currently high fuel prices. In recent months, prices for petrol and diesel had soared as a result of the Iran war. The Guardian reports that a dozen US senators – including six Republicans – had urged Trump in a letter on Tuesday to reverse the diesel deal and to use the law’s sanctions powers.
According to SPIEGEL, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated at the end of the week that he felt betrayed by the USA because of the diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the subsequent threats directed at Kyiv. The Guardian quotes Zelenskyy, who said on Friday at a meeting with European heads of state and government in Brussels that the diesel deal meant money would “flow back to Russia”. Trump, in turn, had publicly criticised Ukraine and hinted that the country needed new leadership. Military analyst Colonel Reisner said, according to zdfheute.de, that it was possible that Trump was turning away from Ukraine for good.
Midterm elections, Dmitriev and a possible new wedge
According to zdfheute.de, political scientist Hanna Notte sees “a new wedge in the relationship between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy” and considers the diesel deal with Putin a political success for Russia. Trump, whose Republicans must face the voters in just over two weeks, is under pressure: the Guardian reports that he blames Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for rising energy prices, which could cost his party its narrow majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.
According to suaragarut.id, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul placed Trump’s latest remarks about Zelenskyy in the context of the US midterm elections on 3 November 2026 and at the same time stressed that the USA would continue to support Ukraine together with its European partners.
Meanwhile, according to his investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Russia is examining further opportunities for economic cooperation with the USA, including possible joint projects for data centres and the use of small nuclear power plants. Dmitriev did not provide further details at an energy conference in Moscow.
The sanctions law bears the name of Senator and Trump confidant Lindsey Graham, who died in July and had been a key driving force behind it. According to the Guardian, it has also become a campaign issue for Senator Darline Graham, the sister of the deceased, who has taken over his Senate seat on an interim basis and is running for a full term. In a debate this week, she said the law gives the president tools he can use if he wants to – the decision lies with him.
Editor’s note: Whether and when Trump will still bring the sanctions into force cannot be derived from the available sources. The law itself remains in force; the measures provided for in it are suspended.
