Trump suspends sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and gas

US President Donald Trump has suspended the implementation of new sanctions related to Russian energy sales before they could take effect. The restrictions were part of a bill promoted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which Trump signed last month. The executive order, published on the White House website, halted tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas. Trump said the decision aligns with US national interests, though it comes amid strained relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European concerns over weakened support for Kyiv. The White House has also pressed Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil facilities, seeking to curb oil price increases ahead of US midterm elections. The bill, HR 5334, was signed on September 19, 2026, following Graham's sudden death in July.