Washington: President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia days before they were to take effect drew outrage Saturday from members of Congress, which had overwhelmingly passed the legislation in a bipartisan display of American support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Lawmakers from both parties blasted the executive order late Friday, the latest in a series of steps that the Republican president has taken drawing the United States closer to Russia's Vladimir Putin. Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Putin to import Russian energy in a long-shot effort to curb high gas prices in the U.S. that are roiling the midterm elections on Nov. 3.
"I think it's clear Russia is the aggressor, and we've got to do everything we can to put economic pressure on Russia," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said in an interview with The Associated Press. "So it's not the first thing I would be doing."
"Beyond irresponsible," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on social media, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the sanctions that were supposed to take effect Sunday targeting Russia's economy could be revived.
"What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?" Tillis said. "It's unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine."
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said "Lindsey would be appalled," referring to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who worked endlessly on the bill before he died this summer. The bill is known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement that "by giving the Russian economy life support, Trump's deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is "thumbing his nose" at Congress and "enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression." She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse course.
Next steps uncertain with Congress out until after Election Day
Trump's actions come as Ukraine is bracing for a stark winter confronting Russia's ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure to heat homes and keep the lights on. Zelenskyy, who has endured a rocky relationship with Trump but stayed close to the U.S. lawmakers, urged supporters to speak out on behalf of the sanctions.
The next steps are highly uncertain with the House and Senate on recess until after Election Day. Trump had indicated he was waiving the sanctions indefinitely, citing national security concerns.
Later Saturday, Trump told reporters that they don't know what his decision is yet regarding sanctions in Russia, despite the executive order he signed Friday night, citing a U.S national interest.
"We'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out. But it's a very good decision, and it's going to be a decision that's good for the country, and I think good for the world," Trump said at a fundraising dinner at his Florida estate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, separately addressing reporters Saturday before departing for Central Asia, suggested Trump would take 60 days to review global and U.S. economic impacts from imposing proposed sanctions on Russia and other countries, in light of tariffs already in place. Pointing to high energy prices and the Iran war, "we need that period of time to sort of study all this and figure out what the right combination is," he said.
It is unlikely Congress would be in a position to take any action to challenge Trump's moves until lawmakers return to Washington.
Skeptics in Congress warned Trump would not follow the law
It took almost a year for Graham to persuade Trump to agree to the Russian sanctions package. It was designed to impose steep tariffs on countries that import large amounts of Russian oil and energy products and was promoted as a way to halt the flow of funds fueling Putin's four-year war against Ukraine.
But even as Zelenskyy had watched from the visitor gallery as the Senate advanced the package after Graham's death, skeptics in Congress warned Trump would be unlikely to follow the bill once he had signed it into law a month ago.
Last week, a bipartisan group of senators urged the Trump administration to more quickly clamp down on Russia, particularly the "shadow fleet" of tankers that Moscow is using to transport oil and bypass America's sanctions. The senators noted that the bulk of the new law's provisions were to be effective Sunday.
Instead, Trump soon announced the diesel deal with Putin, saying that Russia had agreed to supply tons of fuel to the U.S., where gas prices have skyrocketed in some areas and voters are saying affordability issues are a top concern.
Outraged lawmakers have pledged to stop the Trump-Putin deal.
New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who had led opposition to the Graham bill - warning that Trump would flout the law - introduced legislation Friday that would block Trump's diesel deal with Putin. "At a time when the United States should be increasing pressure on the Kremlin, Donald Trump is cozying up to Putin and striking self-enriching deals instead of standing with Ukraine," Meeks said in a statement.
He called the deal "corrupt" and said it "goes against everything the United States stands for."
On Saturday, he said that "Congress is not helpless" and must act.
Graham's legacy on the line
Graham's sister, Darline Graham of South Carolina, helped ensure Senate passage of the bill, once she was appointed by the state's governor to fill her brother's seat.
She is now running against Democrat Annie Andrews in a tight race. Trump is expected in the state next week to rally voters.
"Look, the president and I share the same goal, which is to end the war, to get gas and diesel prices down, and the sanctions bill is one of the tools he can use to do that," Darline Graham said at a campaign stop Saturday.
"It's up to him whether or not he chooses to use it. Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia," she said, "because I don't trust Putin and I don't trust Russia."
Like her brother, who often publicly parted ways with the president, Darline Graham said she and Trump can have their differences.
"I am proud of it to help get across the finish line. It meant a lot to Lindsey," she said. "But you know, like Lindsey, he disagreed with the president sometimes they had that relationship where they could agree to disagree sometimes. And I think that just happens."