President Donald Trump has suspended new sanctions against Russia just days before their scheduled implementation, invoking national security interests as justification. The suspension follows his signing of the Lindsey Graham Act, named for the late South Carolina senator, which Congress passed last month. The legislation targeted Russian financial institutions, government officials, and energy exports to escalate economic pressure over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Democratic lawmakers condemned the move, accusing Trump of weakening the law’s intended impact. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, one of the bill’s co-authors, said the delay represented a betrayal of the American people and claimed it stemmed from Trump’s efforts to curry favor with Vladimir Putin. The sanctions included provisions for up to 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, though exemptions applied to nations actively reducing their reliance on Russian energy supplies. Blumenthal had also sought to sanction a shadow fleet of tankers critical to sustaining Russia’s energy exports, further isolating Moscow’s war economy.
Trump’s decision follows his announcement last week that the U.S. would buy 300,000 tons of Russian diesel. The Graham Act gained bipartisan support after the senator’s death in July. He had championed stricter penalties to undermine Putin’s military capabilities, arguing that economic pressure could force a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The law sought to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers and penalize officials involved in the invasion.
Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister and his congressional successor, said in a statement after Trump signed the bill, “I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day.” The legislation was also a key part of Graham’s political legacy, as he had pushed for it during his final months in office before his sudden passing.
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In a recent interview, Darline Graham acknowledged that Trump could choose between enforcing the law or pursuing alternative strategies. The White House provided no detailed explanation for the suspension but cited a forthcoming justification sent to Congress, though no further details were immediately released.
Trump’s stance has shifted alongside his growing criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he has accused of failing to negotiate with Putin. The administration had maintained silence on the sanctions following their passage, despite repeated appeals from Zelenskyy and lawmakers. Both Republicans and Democrats have rejected the diesel purchase, arguing it sustains Russia’s war effort without addressing the persistent high costs of fuel, partly driven by Trump’s policies toward Iran.
Trump’s approval ratings have sunk to near-historic lows and pressure is mounting as Republicans try to hold control of both chambers of Congress after midterm elections on Nov. 3. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published Oct. 1 found that Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices.
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