He signed the Russia sanctions law in September and waived it in October, after a phone call with Putin about diesel

People and organizations

Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Marco Rubio, Department of the Treasury, United States Congress, Government of Russia, Trump administration

Places

United States, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Europe

Evidence label

Reporting — Original reporting by an identified news organization that we opened and dated. Investigative findings are attributed to the outlet, not asserted as adjudicated fact. More

What happened

On October 9, 2026, Trump and Putin spoke by phone and agreed that Russia would supply between 300,000 and 3 million metric tons of diesel to US and global markets; the same day the Treasury Department issued General License 135 authorizing the sale, shipping and import of Russian-origin diesel through April 7, 2027 [5][6]. The Institute for the Study of War called it a unilateral concession: Russia had offered the United States nothing in the Ukraine negotiations in return [5]. According to Axios, Trump made the deal after Ukraine refused to halt strikes on Russian refineries [5].

Late on Friday, October 16, Trump signed an executive order waiving the core provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the law he had signed on September 18 after the House passed it on September 16 [1][7]. The act required duties of up to 500 percent on Russian goods and tariffs of up to 100 percent on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China, India and Turkey, within 30 days of enactment; the waiver came two days before that deadline [1][7]. Trump certified to Congress that the waiver was in the national interest but, as the Kyiv Independent noted, did not publicly explain how [7].

Why it matters

Oil and fuel revenue is what funds Russia's war [1]. The Graham Act's design was to cut that revenue by penalizing Russia's customers and its shadow fleet, ports, insurers and state banks; after the waiver, most of that machinery was on hold [7]. NBC News described the suspension as "a financial lifeline" for Russia [3]. Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev called it a "historic moment" [1].

The waiver was one of several moves in a single week that eased pressure on Moscow while pressuring Kyiv: the diesel deal, a demand that Ukraine stop hitting Russian refineries (Trump called the strikes a "disgrace"), and disputed disruptions to the US-provided satellite system Ukraine's forces use [4][2]. Russia kept striking Ukraine's energy grid after Trump declared an "immediate" energy ceasefire, which is why Ukraine resumed its own strikes [6]. Russian strikes that weekend killed at least 17 people in Zaporizhzhia, including an 11-year-old girl [4].

The timing also mattered at home: diesel prices had risen almost 70 percent since the Iran war began in February, and the waiver came less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections [3][1]. The groundwork was laid in March, when the administration first weighed easing Russian oil sanctions to replace supply lost to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, after Trump's first call of the year with Putin [8].

The evidence

• The executive order and the certification to Congress; the act's 500 percent and 100 percent tariff provisions; the 30-day clock; the September 16 and 18 dates [1][7].
• The October 9 call, the diesel volumes, and General License 135's scope: it lifts US sanctions on Russian diesel imposed in 2014 and 2022 for sales anywhere in the world through April 2027 [5][7].
• The ISW assessment that the deal was a unilateral concession that could prolong the war [5].
• The congressional backlash, which crossed party lines: Republican Senators Tillis, Cornyn, Sullivan, Cruz and Darline Graham and Representatives Lawler and Bacon publicly opposed the waiver; six Republican senators and six Democrats, and separately 22 House members, asked Trump to rescind the diesel license [3][6]. Cornyn wrote that Lindsey Graham "would be appalled" [2].
• Zelensky's response: the decision was "wrong," helped only Russia, and would not be the end of sanctions relief [1][3]. He asked European leaders for 70 billion euros more next year and additional Patriots [4].
• The law requires an unclassified report to Congress before a waiver; Trump said the report had been sent [3].

Response and counterpoints

The administration's stated rationale is fuel prices and diplomacy: enforcement would impede peace talks, and the president wanted 60 days to study the economic effects [2][3]. Energy analysts doubt the price case. CSIS's Masha Kotkin said the diesel volumes were too small relative to global demand to affect US prices; Sergey Vakulenko estimated the sanctions relief was worth about $30 to $40 a ton to exporters and noted that Russia's exportable diesel had fallen from roughly 3 million tons a month in April to about 325,000 tons in September [6]. The first tanker bound for New York carried 40,000 tons, about two hours of US demand [7]. Senator Tillis said the president could address energy prices by resolving the Iran problem instead [3].

What remains uncertain

Whether the waiver is a 60-day pause or a permanent shift is unresolved; the act's provisions could be reimposed [3]. Lawmakers argue the diesel license may conflict with the 2022 US import ban on Russian energy and could invite a legal challenge, and whether Congress acts is uncertain [7]. How much net new revenue the deal gives Russia is disputed; the roughly $7 billion headline value includes diesel Russia was already exporting [6]. The cause of the satellite disruptions is contested; Musk denied SpaceX was responsible [4].

Money and method

The "almost 70 percent" diesel price rise is NBC's figure for the period since late February 2026 [3]. The 300,000 to 3 million ton range is the span reported for the deal's initial and later tranches [5]. The "$7 billion" is a headline value cited by Fox News from analyst commentary, not a government figure [6]. This story overlaps with the companion story on the October 2025 Rosneft and Lukoil sanctions and their repeated waivers, which covers earlier relief during the Iran war.

Sources cited

1. [1]
   Trump waives broad new Russia sanctions, Zelenskyy condemns it as 'wrong' — CNBC, 2026-10-17.

   supports · Paragraphs 2-8 (executive order late Friday Oct. 16 waiving key parts; certification to Congress; House passed bill Sept. 16, Trump signed two days later; act required duties of up to 500% on Russian goods and up to 100% on top buyers such as China and India within 30 days; waiver two days before deadline); paragraph 13 (temporary easing of diesel sanctions through April 2027); paragraph 15 (Dmitriev calls it 'historic') · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-01
2. [2]
   Trump waives new Russia sanctions in the 'national interests' — Axios, 2026-10-17.

   supports · 'Driving the news' and 'What they're saying' (waiver under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act; Schumer, Beyer, Blumenthal, Tillis, Cornyn criticism; Cornyn: Graham 'would be appalled'); 'For the record' (White House: enforcement would impede peace negotiations); 'The big picture' (avoids pressure on China and India; week of easing including diesel deal and Starlink dispute) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-02
3. [3]
   Trump doubles down after waiving new Russia sanctions, calling it a 'very good decision' — NBC News, 2026-10-17.

   supports · Paragraphs 1-3 and 6-7 (waiver 'a financial lifeline'; Rubio: Trump wanted 60 days to analyze effects; followed diesel deal as fuel prices rose); paragraphs 13-27 (Republicans Lawler, Sullivan, Cruz, Tillis, Bacon, Cornyn, Darline Graham oppose); paragraphs 30-32 (diesel prices up almost 70% since the Iran war began in February; waiver less than three weeks before midterms; law passed with strong majorities and requires an unclassified report before waiver) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-03
4. [4]
   Trump waives new Russia sanctions as Ukraine ties slump — AFP, 2026-10-17.

   supports · Paragraphs 1-5 (order waives sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia's energy revenues; reversal followed deal with Putin to release diesel); paragraphs 9-13 (Trump calls Kyiv's refinery strikes a 'disgrace'; disputed satellite disruptions, Musk denies); paragraphs 18-24 (Zelensky asks for 70 billion euros more and Patriots; EU paying 90-billion-euro loan; strikes kill at least 17 in Zaporizhzhia including an 11-year-old) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-04
5. [5]
   Trump's decision to ease Russian diesel sanctions could prolong war in Ukraine, ISW — The New Voice of Ukraine, 2026-10-10.

   supports · Paragraphs 1-5 (ISW Oct. 9: unilateral concession; Russia offered no concessions; fuel revenue could finance operations; Russia 9.5% of global diesel exports in 2025); diesel deal section paragraphs 1-5 (Oct. 9 call; 300,000 to 3 million metric tons; Treasury license through April 7, 2027; Axios: deal made after Ukraine refused to halt refinery strikes) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-05
6. [6]
   Trump tries different approach with Russia to bring Americans relief amid ongoing war with Ukraine — Fox News, 2026-10-18.

   supports · Paragraphs 4-5 (six GOP senators and five House Republicans urge reversal; Oct. 18 implementation deadline); paragraphs 14-15 (Oct. 9 announcement; General License 135); paragraphs 17-18 (Russia continued striking after Trump declared energy ceasefire; Ukraine resumed strikes); paragraphs 21-26 (CSIS: volumes too small to move US prices; Vakulenko: $7 billion headline not all new revenue, relief worth $30-40 per ton; exportable diesel fell from ~3 million tons in April to ~325,000 tons in September); paragraphs 32-35 (22 House lawmakers seek revocation) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-06
7. [7]
   Inside the legal design of America's Russia sanctions U-turn — The Kyiv Independent via Yahoo News, 2026-10-23.

   supports · Paragraphs 1-3 (first tanker to New York with 40,000 metric tons, about two hours of US demand; policy reversed within a week of the call); 'Anatomy of General License 135' paragraphs 6-7 (lifts 2014 and 2022 diesel sanctions worldwide through April 2027); 'The Graham Act waiver' paragraphs 14-20 (waived Oct. 16 before taking effect; tariff of up to 100% on China, India, Turkey; shadow fleet, ports, insurers, state banks on hold; Russian-flagged shadow tankers more than doubled in September 2026) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-07
8. [8]
   Trump, Putin talk of war and peace as US weighs easing Russian oil sanctions — Reuters via The Daily Star, 2026-03-10.

   context · Paragraphs 1-7 (March 9, 2026 Trump-Putin call, first of the year, on Iran, Ukraine and energy markets; Putin warns of global energy crisis; Russia ready to resume work with European customers); 'US sanctions' paragraphs 1-4 (administration considering reducing Russian oil sanctions to increase supply after Hormuz closure; could undermine efforts to restrict Russian revenue) · checked 2026-10-26 · source N-graham-08