‘Truly historic’: Putin’s envoy hails Trump’s move to suspend Russia sanctions

Trump suspended key provisions of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The measures were designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Their suspension paused provisions that could have imposed sanctions and tariffs affecting Russia and countries buying its energy.

The White House released an executive order saying the waiver was in the United States’ national interest. Trump also submitted a certification to Congress confirming that judgment. The order did not permanently cancel the legislation. Instead, it stopped the provisions from taking effect for now.

The suspension remains active until Trump or senior officials decide further action is appropriate. Kirill Dmitriev called the decision historic, while Representative Don Beyer accused Trump of conceding to Moscow. The move therefore preserves economic cooperation for the moment but leaves future sanctions possible.

Economic sanctions are government restrictions designed to pressure another country without direct military control. They can limit dealings with officials, banks, companies, ships, or markets. Their purpose is to raise economic costs and discourage policies a sanctioning government opposes.

The proposed Graham Act would have authorised sanctions against Russian officials and banks. It also covered vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. In addition, it provided for tariffs on goods from major importers of Russian oil and gas. Those measures would have reached beyond Russia’s government.

Countries continuing to buy Russian energy, or helping Moscow evade sanctions, could face higher costs for access to the US market. The legislation was created to intensify pressure over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump’s waiver suspended key provisions before they took effect.

The proposed penalties were potentially large enough to disrupt trade well beyond Russia. The legislation provided for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from major importers of Russian oil and gas. That could make affected exports dramatically more expensive in the US market.

Its sanctions provisions could target Russian officials and banks. They also covered vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. The tariff mechanism would apply to countries that continued buying Russian energy or helped Moscow evade sanctions. China and India were specifically identified as major Russian oil buyers.

The measures therefore could affect Russian institutions, shipping connected to oil exports, and foreign economies trading with Russia. The article does not name individual officials, banks, or ships. Trump’s waiver suspended key provisions before these penalties took effect.

China and India were concerned because the proposed legislation could punish major buyers of Russian energy, not only Russia itself. Both countries were identified as two of the biggest purchasers of Russian oil. Their trade with Russia could therefore trigger higher costs or restrictions on their own goods.

The legislation provided for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from countries continuing to buy Russian oil and gas. China rejected what it called long-arm jurisdiction without a basis in international law. India warned that additional tariffs could affect its bilateral ties.

Their objections showed the measure’s broad reach. It could pressure Moscow by targeting its energy customers, but it could also strain Washington’s relationships with important trading partners. Trump’s waiver suspended the relevant provisions, so the threatened tariffs did not take effect under the article’s account.

If the measures took effect, Russia could face sanctions on officials and banks, plus pressure on oil shipping. Its energy customers could also face tariffs, potentially reducing the value or ease of Russian trade. The legislation was intended to intensify pressure over the war in Ukraine.

The key mechanism was broad economic exposure. Sanctions could restrict dealings with Russian institutions and vessels. Tariffs of up to 100 per cent could hit goods from countries buying Russian energy or helping Moscow evade sanctions. That could spread costs through several economies rather than isolating Russia alone.

Dmitriev argued the legislation could halt all economic cooperation between Russia and the United States. He said it could seriously damage the US economy and global markets. He also argued cooperation supports global stability and trust. The waiver keeps those possible effects suspended for now, but the order allows future action.

The legislation was created in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It was backed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. Their stated legislative purpose was to intensify economic pressure on Moscow over the war.

Sanctions would do this by authorising restrictions against Russian officials and banks. The bill also targeted vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. Tariffs could reach countries whose purchases of Russian oil and gas supported Moscow or helped it evade sanctions.

The intended role was coercive rather than territorial. Economic pressure would punish institutions connected to Russia and increase the costs of its international trade. The article does not say these measures would directly end the war. Trump’s waiver means the key provisions are suspended, although further action remains possible.

Economic pressure works by controlling access to transactions, finance, trade routes, and major markets. A country does not need to occupy another’s territory to make cooperation harder. It can restrict dealings with targeted officials and banks or penalise companies and governments that continue certain trade.

The proposed Graham Act illustrated this mechanism. It could sanction Russian officials and banks, target vessels linked to the shadow fleet, and impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from major Russian-energy buyers. Those buyers would face a choice between continuing trade and risking higher costs in the US market.

This approach can reach Russia indirectly through its customers, banks, and shipping links. Dmitriev warned that the effect could halt Russia-US economic cooperation and damage global markets. Trump’s waiver paused the provisions, but future action could restore this pressure.