Trump Waives Russian Sanctions to Lower Domestic Diesel Prices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, 2026, waiving the majority of sanctions and tariffs mandated by the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The waiver, which took effect just before an October 18 deadline, suspends duties of up to 500% on Russian imports and 100% tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian energy, including India and China. Trump certified the move as being in the national interest, specifically to lower domestic diesel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The decision follows a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tonnes of diesel into global markets, starting with an immediate 300,000 tonnes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the waiver as a 60-day pause to analyze the economic impact of the tariffs, noting that allies like India cannot pivot their energy portfolios immediately.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the move as a betrayal that rewards the Kremlin and fuels Russian aggression. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv further escalated following reports that the White House restricted Ukraine's access to Starshield satellite services and reduced intelligence sharing. In response, Zelenskyy appealed to the European Union for 70 billion euros in additional aid and increased military support. While the EU approved its largest expansion of sanctions against Russia since the war began, the Kremlin hailed the U.S. waiver as a historic moment for economic cooperation.