--- title: "US Waives Sanctions on Russia Days Before They Were Set to Take Effect" url: https://noti.group/us-waives-sanctions-on-russia-days-before-they-were-set-to-take-effect/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-17T06:39:40.000Z updated: 2026-10-17T07:29:33.306Z id: af4e0b16-7c43-4a9d-9ddf-dc98b811e7b3 source: "BBC News World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr5yvzv7rp0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/us-waives-sanctions-on-russia-days-before-they-were-set-to-take-effect/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # US Waives Sanctions on Russia Days Before They Were Set to Take Effect The move has sparked outrage among lawmakers who have accused Trump of undermining the will of Congress. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have escalated further as US President Donald Trump has waived several sanctions on Russia, mere days before they were set to take effect. The sanctions had been passed by Congress in September and signed into law by the president, but a last-minute executive order was issued, citing that withholding some of them was in the "national interest of the United States. This move has sparked outrage among lawmakers who have accused Trump of undermining the will of Congress. The decision to waive sanctions comes as US-Ukraine relations are fraying once more over a contentious deal between Washington and Moscow to import diesel fuel, which has been met with opposition from Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The agreement has led to allegations that the Trump administration is withdrawing crucial military support for Ukraine. Trump and Zelensky have been exchanging barbed comments throughout the week, with the Ukrainian leader taking a jab at the US president by saying it was nice to be among real leaders during an address at an EU summit. The remark was likely aimed at Trump's earlier comment that he found Putin easier to deal with than Zelensky. The new sanctions law had been designed to target Russia's economy, giving Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The legislation also included measures against senior Russian officials, financial institutions, and Moscow's shadow fleet" of vessels used to evade existing embargoes. The Biden administration has now waived several provisions from a previous sanctions package targeting Moscow, a move that is likely to spark further criticism from lawmakers and Ukraine's government. Democrats have already begun speaking out against Trump's decision, with some accusing him of abandoning US allies in Ukraine and caving to Russian pressure. Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia was among those who expressed disapproval, arguing that the sanctions waiver undermines efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine. Beyer's criticism echoed a sentiment shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has long emphasized the need for more stringent international sanctions to limit Russia's ability to fund its war effort. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has taken a new turn as both nations continue to target each other's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials claim these strikes are aimed at limiting revenue for Russia's war efforts, while Moscow asserts that they only target military facilities. The situation escalated when Kyiv resumed its strikes on Russian oil refineries after initially halting them following President Trump's announcement waiving several sanctions on Russia. This move was met with criticism from both Ukrainian and international leaders who argue it undermines efforts to pressure Russia into ending the conflict. The tension between Ukraine and the US has increased further as President Zelensky accused Washington of deliberately slowing down internet services provided by Starlink satellites, which are crucial for Ukraine's military operations. He also pointed out that intelligence-sharing had been withdrawn, allowing Russia to launch surprise attacks on Ukrainian targets. As a result of these developments, relations between Ukraine and the US have reached a critical point, with both sides trading accusations and counter-accusations. The situation remains volatile, with no clear resolution in sight. --- Source: [BBC News World](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr5yvzv7rp0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/us-waives-sanctions-on-russia-days-before-they-were-set-to-take-effect/