Trump Waives 100% Russia Oil Sanctions as Europe Alarms Over Ukraine Rift
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 17
Trump Waives 100% Russia Oil Sanctions as Europe Alarms Over Ukraine Rift
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 17
Summary
Days before they were due to start, Trump suspended sanctions that would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five biggest importers of Russian oil and gas.
The White House tied the move only to unspecified US national interests, but the report says Trump has been pressing Ukraine to stop hitting Russian oil sites as he tries to curb fuel prices before midterm elections.
The waiver lands amid a sharp deterioration in US-Ukraine ties: Trump said Zelensky is harder to deal with than Putin, while Kyiv reported Starlink disruptions, no warning before a deadly strike and a shortage of Patriot missiles.
European leaders are moving the other way, preparing a 22nd sanctions package against Russia, while US Democrats and other lawmakers said Trump was defying Congress and easing pressure on the Kremlin.