Trump suspends implementation of new sanctions against Russia

US President Donald Trump has suspended the implementation of new sanctions against Russia under legislation recently approved by Congress, according to an executive order published by the White House on Friday evening.

The measures will remain suspended until further notice, with Trump citing US national interests as the reason for his decision.

The executive order concerns legislation signed into law in mid-September, marking Congress’s first major sanctions initiative against Moscow since Trump’s return to office. The legislation, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, gives the President considerable discretion over its implementation.

The sanctions primarily target Russia’s energy sector, including its shadow fleet of oil tankers, President Vladimir Putin, and other senior Russian officials. The law also authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil and natural gas, including China and India.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had welcomed the legislation, describing it as a powerful instrument for pressuring Russia to end the war.

Trump’s decision comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Kyiv following…