Trump waives sanctions on Russian oil and gas purchases

President Donald Trump waived sanctions, restrictions, and duties on Russian oil and gas purchases under the Graham Act on Friday, October 16, 2026, citing U.S. national interest and submitting a congressional certification to that effect. The waiver, issued via executive order, suspends penalties that could have reached 100 percent on major buyers of Russian energy. The Graham Act, named after the late senator, had targeted Russia's energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin, and Moscow's shadow fleet of tankers. The decision has strained Kyiv-Washington relations, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling it a "weak decision" and Ukrainian forces resuming attacks on Russian oil refineries in response.