Rubio Says Trump Will Take Up to 60 Days to Weigh Russia Sanctions

A day after waiving sanctions and tariffs tied to Russian exports, President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has not announced a final decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president will use up to 60 days to study the economic impact on both the global and US economies. The waiver covers measures under the Graham Act, which Trump signed last month at the urging of lawmakers who want to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

The law calls for tariffs on Russian goods and penalties on countries buying Russian oil and gas, and those steps were due to take effect next week. Friday’s executive order did not say how long the waiver would last. It comes just weeks before the midterm elections, with Trump under pressure over high energy prices as the war with Iran disrupts global oil supplies.

Reaction to the Russia Sanctions Waiver

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned the order would embolden Vladimir Putin and prolong the war. Senator Darline Graham, a South Carolina Republican whose late brother Lindsey Graham championed the law, said she disagrees with the decision and plans to raise it with Trump when he campaigns for her next week. She said she would keep the pressure on Russia because she does not trust Putin.

Russian Diesel Deal and India Tariff Concerns

Rubio defended a separate agreement with Russia to boost diesel supplies and ease fuel prices. Trump said Russia will initially send more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States, with more shipments in November and beyond. Rubio said the diesel will be sold anyway, and the only question is how much the US receives. He also noted the law’s tariffs on countries importing Russian energy complicate matters, pointing to India, which has diversified its supplies but still relies heavily on Russian oil.