Zelenskyy says Trump is ‘rewarding Putin’ as he waives new Russia sanctions passed by Congress
President Donald Trump waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia passed by Congress, arguing in an executive order Friday that the move “is in the national interests of the United States.”
Trump had signed the legislation, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., just last month. The bill took aim at Russia’s largest buyers of oil and gas, allowing the president to impose tariffs on goods from those countries, which may include China and India.
Passed with bipartisan support, the bill was intended to target Russia’s revenue streams as the country continues to wage its war against Ukraine. Suspending the sanctions provides Russia a financial lifeline.
Asked by reporters Saturday evening why he waived the sanctions, Trump said, “A lot of you don’t know what my decision is yet, but we’ll figure it out, and you’ll figure it out.”
“It’s a very good decision, and it’s going to be a decision that’s good for the country, and I think good for the world because we’re really at a world stage,” he said.
Trump’s decision to put a hold on the sanctions package comes after he announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar.
Trump has expressed frustration with Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure and has blamed them for the increase in fuel costs while downplaying the impact of the Iran war on the oil market.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that lifting sanctions was “wrong” and “only helps the Russians.”
In a Telegram post, he decried what he called an “American sanctions blackout,” adding that a “weakening of pressure on the aggressor, effectively serving as a financial reward for Putin—only encourages him to continue his attacks.”
“It seems to me that this won’t stop Putin,” he later told journalists in WhatsApp messages. “On the contrary, he feels joy and happiness that there is such support.” [Continue reading…]
Senator Darline Graham, Republican of South Carolina, gingerly criticized President Trump on Saturday for exempting Russia from a sanctions law that was championed by and named after her late brother, Lindsey.
“Personally, I would choose to put the pressure on Russia to end the war and get gas prices down,” Ms. Graham told reporters at a campaign event. “Because I don’t trust Putin, and I don’t trust Russia.”
It was a small break from Mr. Trump, and one that may put Ms. Graham, who was appointed in July to replace her brother after his death, in an awkward position as she campaigns for a full term with the president’s backing. [Continue reading…]