US Defends 60-Day Russia Sanctions Pause as Europe Refuses to Target India, China

The United States has defended President Donald Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia as a 60-day pause to assess global economic impacts, while revealing that European allies refused a US request to impose secondary sanctions on China and India for buying Russian oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act allows Trump to evaluate consequences before further action. Bessent accused Europeans of financing Russia's war by importing more Russian energy than the US. The waiver has drawn bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers including Senator Darline Graham and Indian-American Congressmen Ami Bera and Suhas Subramanyam accusing Trump of undermining Congress and abandoning Ukraine. Trump defended the decision as beneficial for the US and the world.