In a dramatic policy U-turn, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order waiving wide-ranging US sanctions and tariffs aimed at choking off Russia’s energy revenues—measures he signed into law just last month.
The Lindsey Graham Act – named after the deceased US senator who sponsored the bill – allowed Mr Trump the authority to impose duties up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
“As described further in section 4 of this order, I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” the executive order said.
The law targeted Russia’s energy and defence sectors, President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, as well as Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions.
Mr Trump’s decision to roll back the Russia sanctions follows a controversial deal he struck with Mr Putin that would allow Russia diesel exports in exchange for US sanctions relief.
The agreement has strained ties between Ukraine and the US, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing it as a “weak decision” and Ukrainian forces resuming attacks on Russian oil refineries.
