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United States (US) President Donald Trump has said that he is waiving several sanctions, restrictions and tariffs under a new law targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas, days before the measures were due to take effect.
Trump announced the decision in an executive order released by the White House on Friday. He said the waiver was in the national interest of the United States.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump said.
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The move comes as Trump has shown a warmer stance towards Russia while publicly criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He has also suggested that Ukraine needs a new leader. The law, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was signed by Trump in mid-September. Its main backer in Congress was the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The legislation would have imposed tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods entering the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas. It also targeted countries that knowingly continued buying Russian oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted, as well as the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions.
However, the waiver has eased the immediate threat of these penalties. Countries that rely heavily on Russian oil, including India, have raised concerns about the legislation. India is among the biggest buyers of Russian oil.
The decision marks a shift in the implementation of the sanctions law, which was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia and countries supporting its energy trade.
