Trump waives broad new Russia sanctions as diesel deal draws scrutiny

· Finance · United States · Russia

President Trump waived broad new sanctions on Russia despite having signed the Graham Bill into law in September, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to condemn the move as "wrong." CNBC reported that Trump's Russia diesel deal may offer Vladimir Putin more than money, raising questions about Ukraine's leverage and U.S. support. The waiver weakens the legal pressure Congress designed to target Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, and shifts the focus to how Washington will use energy trade and sanctions relief as leverage in any negotiations. Analysts framed the diesel arrangement as doing little for Russia's finances but carrying wider strategic consequences for Kyiv and its Western backers.

Why it matters：Sanctions relief and energy deals are being used as bargaining chips in the war, affecting commodity flows, allied cohesion and the credibility of Western penalties regimes that markets price in.

Key points

  • Trump signed the Graham Bill targeting Russia in September but has now waived broad new sanctions.
  • Zelenskyy called the waiver "wrong."
  • A diesel deal with Russia raises questions about Ukraine's leverage and U.S. support.

Sources (original reporting)

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