Trump suspends key Russia sanctions provisions; Kremlin envoy hails ‘historic moment’
Russian president’s Vladimir Putin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev has described US president Donald Trump’s decision to waive a fresh package of sanctions and tariffs against Russia as a “truly historic moment”.
The remarks came after Washington suspended key provisions of legislation aimed at tightening economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine."The suspension of some of the provisions of the Graham Act marks an important and truly historic moment," Dmitriev said in a post on X on Saturday.The remarks came a day after the White House released an executive order in which Trump said the waiver was in the national interest of the United States.
The measures had been due to take effect under the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed in mid-September.In his post, Dmitriev argued that the legislation could have severely disrupted economic ties between the two countries."The legislation, which underwent fundamental and deeply negative changes following Senator Graham's death, could have effectively brought all economic cooperation between Russia and the United States to a complete halt, inflicting serious damage primarily on the US economy and global markets," he wrote in a post on X.
He added, "Economic cooperation between Russia and the United States serves the interests of both nations, contributes to global economic stability, and lays the foundation for building trust and achieving lasting peace."The legislation, backed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, was designed to intensify pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022."Instead of sanctions and confrontation, we need dialogue, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared responsibility for global stability," Dmitriev wrote.The legislation sought to authorise sanctions against Russian officials and banks, as well as vessels linked to the country's shadow fleet of oil tankers. It also provided for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from major importers of Russian oil and gas, including countries continuing to purchase Russian energy or helping Moscow evade sanctions.
China and India, two of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns over the proposed measures. Beijing opposed what it described as "long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law", while New Delhi warned that additional tariffs could affect bilateral ties.Trump's waiver drew criticism from US Representative Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, who accused the president of conceding to Moscow."Trump's latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression," Beyer said in a statement.Trump said in the executive order that he had submitted a certification to Congress confirming that the waiver was in the US national interest. The suspension will remain in effect until Trump or senior officials determine that further action is appropriate.