Story perspectives

Trump Waives Russia Sanctions and Tariffs in Executive Order

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 2:25 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Waiver rewards Russia

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Oct. 16, 2026, waiving Russia sanctions and tariffs set to start following week.
The waiver was portrayed as rewarding Russia and endangering Ukrainian civilians, prompting Thom Tillis and Elizabeth Warren to condemn it as capitulating to Putin.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the pause would bolster Putin’s war effort and harm Ukraine.
Trump announced buying 300,000 tons diesel, a deal said would fund Moscow’s war.

Right

GOP internal split

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, waiving key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs authorized by the Graham Act.
Several Republican senators and GOP Senate candidates publicly condemned the waiver, underscoring a split within the party.
Sen. Ted Cruz said he wishes Trump had not signed the waiver, calling it a mistake.
GOP Senate candidates Mike Rogers, Ashley Hinson and Dan Sullivan opposed diesel purchase and sanctions pause.

Center

Zelensky says aid

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Oct. 16, 2026, waiving Russia sanctions and tariffs that would take effect the next week.
Officials framed the waiver as a 60-day pause to assess impact, noting bipartisan approval with 262-159 House and 86-11 Senate votes.
Graham Act sets 500% tariffs on Russian goods and 100% on imports from buyers.
Zelensky said pause aids Russia’s war, and Marco Rubio called it 60-day economic review.

History

Historical Context

In March 2014, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13685, imposing sanctions on Russia after its annexation of Crimea, aiming to pressure Moscow. The Treasury Department and the European Union froze roughly 2,000 Russian officials’ assets, totaling about $1.5 billion, and barred key energy firms. Today’s October 16, 2026 executive order by President Donald Trump to waive Russia sanctions mirrors that 2014 move, reviving the same tariff framework and sparking bipartisan criticism. The reversal risks undermining the deterrent effect established in 2014, potentially emboldening Vladimir Putin’s war strategy and reshaping U.S. foreign-policy credibility.

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Waiver rewards Russia

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Oct. 16, 2026, waiving Russia sanctions and tariffs set to start following week.
The waiver was portrayed as rewarding Russia and endangering Ukrainian civilians, prompting Thom Tillis and Elizabeth Warren to condemn it as capitulating to Putin.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the pause would bolster Putin’s war effort and harm Ukraine.
Trump announced buying 300,000 tons diesel, a deal said would fund Moscow’s war.

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