US President Donald Trump has suspended the implementation of new sanctions against Russia under legislation recently passed by Congress, according to an executive order published by the White House last night (local time), as Ukraine fears being abandoned by its American ally.
The measures will remain suspended until further notice, according to the executive order signed by Trump, who cited the “national interest of the United States”.
The order refers to legislation signed into law by the US President in mid-September, marking Congress’s first major initiative against Moscow since Trump’s return to power. However, the legislation grants the Republican leader considerable discretion over its implementation.
The law bears the name of its principal sponsor, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July and was one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters and Russia’s fiercest critics.
The new sanctions framework, primarily targeting Russia’s energy sector, theoretically targets the Russian shadow fleet for the first time, as well as President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials.
Specifically, it gives Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five countries importing the largest quantities of Russian natural gas and oil, including China and India.
The legislation had the support of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who described it upon its signing as “an extremely powerful tool capable of ending this war of terror and pushing Russia towards peace”.
However, already strained relations between the US and Ukrainian presidents have deteriorated further following Trump’s announcement of an agreement with Vladimir Putin to lift sanctions against Moscow, allowing the United States to import large quantities of Russian diesel.
Source: Proto Thema
Also read: Trump freezes sanctions imposed on Russia, citing ‘national interest’
