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Business & Finance · October 18, 2026

Zelenskyy says Trump's decision to waive new sanctions on Russia "seems wrong"

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President Donald Trump has waived significant provisions of the newly enacted Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, citing U.S. national interests. The law, signed in September, intended to impose up to 500% duties on Russian goods and 100% tariffs on major Russian energy buyers like China and India. While existing sanctions remain, this waiver follows a separate temporary easing of sanctions on Russian diesel exports. The decision drew praise from Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev but was condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who argued the move fuels Russian aggression, and by U.S. Democrats who criticized the President's alignment with Russia.

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Reported by multiple outlets

  • President Trump waived key provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.
  • The waiver was issued under a 'national-interest' certification to Congress.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move as 'wrong' and beneficial to Russia.
  • The Graham Act, signed in September 2026, targeted the Russian economy following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The waiver came two days before the implementation deadline for the Graham Act.
  • Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the waiver as a 'historic moment' for U.S.-Russia economic dialogue.
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the President for siding against the majority of Americans and European allies.
  • The Trump administration recently issued a separate waiver for Russian diesel exports through April 2027 to address a supply crunch.
  • Ukraine has reportedly restricted SpaceX's Starshield application, with Elon Musk stating the U.S. government is responsible for network curbs.

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