Overview
- President Donald Trump issued an executive order that suspends or exempts many sanctions, restrictions, and customs tariffs that Congress had authorized to punish Russia.
- The White House said Trump formally certified to Congress that the exemptions serve U.S. national interests and used established presidential authority to delay measures that would have allowed tariffs as high as 100% linked to Russian oil and gas trade.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the decision as a reward for Vladimir Putin and warned it will encourage further attacks on Ukraine.
- Some U.S. lawmakers criticized the move as undercutting the law’s purpose and said it effectively yields leverage to Russia.
- Governments such as India had warned the law could disrupt energy markets, and analysts say the exemption may ease immediate pressure on Moscow while complicating U.S. ties with allies and the enforcement of future sanctions.