> WSJ: Trump Waives Most Russia Sanctions Passed by Congress

President Trump is halting implementation of most of the sanctions that were to be imposed on Russia under a bipartisan bill he signed last month.

The announcement came in an executive order on Friday night, and was part of a broader pivot by Trump toward courting Moscow as he seeks to end the war in Ukraine and keep energy prices under control ahead of the midterm elections.

The law, which was championed by and named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), targets certain Russian officials and institutions and allows for tariffs of up to 100% on countries that import Russian oil.

In the executive order, Trump stated that waiving implementation of most aspects of the law was “in the national interests of the United States.” The law allows the president to waive the application of sanctions if he tells Congress in writing that it is in the national interest, and submits a report explaining his basis for doing so. Trump’s executive order said he had submitted such a certification but didn’t detail why the waiver is in the national interest.

The decision follows Trump’s surprise announcement to buy Russian diesel fuel after striking a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and comes as he continues to pressure Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to end the war that started when Russia invaded.

“The President is prolonging the war, not ending it,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), who is retiring after this term.



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