U.S. lawmakers and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday condemned President Donald Trump’s order putting a sweeping sanctions package against Russia on hold.
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The executive order, signed by Trump on Friday night, waived the Russia sanctions in a bill named for the late senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who had championed the effort before his unexpected death in July. Trump said he was issuing the waiver for reasons of national interest but did not elaborate.
The sanctions were scheduled to kick in Sunday under the legislation, which was designed to squeeze Russia’s economy and deprive it of cash to fund its war against Ukraine. The legislation also targets the world’s top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, and extends sanctions against Iran.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), whose terms will end in January, were among several lawmakers who denounced the sanctions waiver. “Lindsey would be appalled,” Cornyn wrote on X, referring to Graham’s vociferous criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his staunch support for Ukraine.
Cornyn — who lost a bitter primary challenge in May to Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton, Texas’s attorney general — went further in two later posts. In one, he circulated a column in the National Review that called on Congress to investigate the “aid and comfort” Trump was providing to Putin. In a separate post, the Texas Republican said helping Putin was “reckless” for America’s national security interests.
“He would not stop with Ukraine and our NATO allies would be next,” Cornyn said of the Russian president.
On Saturday, Tillis described Trump’s decision to waive Russian sanctions as “beyond irresponsible” in a post on X. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day,” he said. Tillis said last year that he would not seek a third term and has publicly broken with Trump on other issues.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more details about Trump’s decision.
The decision follows the administration’s announcement earlier this month that the United States would import diesel from Russia in a bid to lower energy prices.
Trump is facing pressure over diesel prices ahead of next month’s midterm elections. The high cost of living has emerged as a top concern for voters. The deal Trump announced to import Russian oil led to strong bipartisan pushback. U.S. allies in Europe also underscored their support for Zelensky after the announcement.
The oil deal with Russia could somewhat ease prices in the U.S., though the figures are a small slice of U.S. consumption, and the price impact is expected to be muted, The Washington Post has previously reported. It was accompanied by a lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel by the Treasury Department, which said that sales of the fuel to the U.S. would be allowed until April.
Russia launched its war against Ukraine in 2022. The United States and its European allies have largely been concerted in their support for Ukraine. But the alliance has grown uneasy under Trump, who has shown public frustration with Zelensky and blamed him for not settling the war with Russia.
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Zelensky criticized Friday’s decision in a post Saturday, highlighting Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.
“A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground,” he said.
The move also drew swift condemnation from Democrats, who described it as a capitulation to Putin.
“Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Virginia) said in a post on X.
“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said early Saturday. “I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly action,” he wrote.
“Trump just gave Putin the best birthday gift he’ll get this year,” wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York). “By giving the Russian economy life support Trump’s deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier.”
“President Trump has once again opted for capitulation to the Kremlin. Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Ronald Reagan must be turning in their graves,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) wrote on X.
But it was welcomed in Moscow, with Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev calling it an “important and truly historic moment.”
“Economic cooperation between Russia and the United States serves the interests of both countries, contributes to the stability of the global economy, and lays the foundation for building trust and achieving lasting peace,” he said.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) welcomed Trump’s move, writing on X that he was “glad” to see that Trump waived “almost all the provisions of this stupid law that pertain to Russia.”
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