Key facts
- President Trump waived congressionally approved sanctions against Russia on Friday.
- The sanctions were part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act.
- The waiver allows for the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
- Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, and Rep. Don Bacon, criticized the decision.
- A Senate resolution opposing the waiver was kept alive by a vote of 57 to 42.
President Donald Trump's decision to waive congressionally approved sanctions against Russia on Friday has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers. The move, which allows for the temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, comes as Trump faces pressure to lower energy prices ahead of the midterm elections.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), along with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), expressed dismay over the decision. Bacon stated on X that the President is "prolonging the war, not ending it."
The sanctions were part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, signed in September, which gave the White House 30 days to implement or waive new tariffs on Russian energy. The waiver follows a recent announcement of a deal to supply Russian diesel to the US and global markets.
In a separate development, the Senate voted 57 to 42 to keep alive a resolution opposing the Trump administration's decision to diminish sanctions against Russia. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had sought to table the resolution, crafted by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged senators to vote against the resolution, which would block a Treasury Department move to lift penalties against Rusal and two other companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.