Trump waives Graham Act sanctions on Russia two days before they take effect

President Donald Trump signed an executive order late on Friday, October 16, 2026, waiving the application of sanctions and duties that Congress had mandated against Russia under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The law, signed by Trump on September 18, required the measures to take effect on October 18 unless the president certified that a waiver served the national interests of the United States.

The order states: “I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act. 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.” It covers sections targeting foreign persons, restrictions on persons, and duties on goods from Russia and from countries that import Russian energy.

Among the waived provisions are 100 percent tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, and 500 percent tariffs on Russian goods. The law also authorized additional sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions. The waiver does not affect sanctions already in place under earlier executive orders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decision unfortunate and said it rewards Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a public statement he wrote that a U.S. sanctions blackout and financial rewards for Putin encourage further attacks. Zelenskyy had urged support for the new measures after they passed Congress.

The Graham Act was named for the South Carolina senator who died in July 2026 after more than a year of building bipartisan support for the package. It aimed to restrict the financial channels supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine and to penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, including China, India and Turkey.

The waiver arrives days after a separate diesel supply arrangement with Russia that was intended to lower U.S. pump prices. Administration officials have not released the full report submitted to Congress explaining the national-interest certification. The order directs officials to monitor countries that import Russian energy or attempt to evade existing sanctions, and it leaves the waiver in place until further action is judged appropriate.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the move. Representative Don Beyer of Virginia said it betrays Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent. Republican candidates facing midterm elections must now explain a decision that softens pressure on a country most voters view as an adversary.

The law required only notification to Congress for a waiver, not prior approval. Trump exercised that authority two days before the measures would have automatically applied. The order notes that nothing in it alters the national emergency declared with respect to harmful foreign activities of the Russian government.

Whether the waiver remains temporary or becomes lasting will depend on subsequent decisions by the administration. For now it removes a set of tools that Congress had passed with the stated purpose of increasing the economic cost of the war in Ukraine.