President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday suspending a broad sanctions package aimed at Russia’s economy, notifying Congress that the decision was in the national interest.
Trump had approved the underlying legislation the previous month.
The bill, named for the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, was designed to more rapidly restrict the money and resources supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The order came one week after Trump unexpectedly said the United States had agreed to buy diesel from Russia in an effort to lower worldwide energy costs — a move that could potentially undermine Ukraine as it continues fighting Moscow.
The Trump administration had offered little public comment since the legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Lawmakers had been pushed to advance the measure by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following Graham’s sudden death.
Trump’s decision also followed his announcement last week that he had reached an understanding with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone conversation that was expected to focus on a suspected plague case in Russia.
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Instead, Trump said Russia would begin shipping more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with another 500,000 tons scheduled for November and 1 million tons to follow “immediately thereafter.”
He added that Russia would provide a further 3 million tons “within a short period of time.”
The sanctions legislation had also become a central campaign issue for Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister. She was appointed to complete the remainder of his term and is seeking a full Senate term of her own.
During a debate earlier this week against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, Graham said she was “so proud” to have helped pass the bill. She also recognized that Trump would decide how — or whether — to put the measure into effect.
“It gives the president tools that he can use if he so chooses, to end the war through economic sanctions,” Graham said Sunday during the debate in Columbia.
“So that’s up to him as to whether or not he wants to use it, or whether he wants to use something else, but I think the purpose of it is to bring down the gas prices and ultimately end the war. And when the war ends, gas prices will fall.”