Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Law After Diesel Deal, Drawing Bipartisan Objections

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, 16 October 2026, waiving the sweeping Russia sanctions law Congress passed this year, NBC News reported. The order says the step "is in the national interests of the United States," and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration wants 60 days to assess the economic effects. The waiver arrives a week after a Treasury licence let Russian diesel reach world markets, and less than three weeks before the 3 November midterm elections.

What did the White House actually do?

Two separate actions are in play. On 9 October, Trump announced a diesel arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a phone call. According to the Associated Press, Trump's post described more than 300,000 tons of Russian diesel supplied immediately, 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly afterward, with a further 3 million tons later and no firm date.

The Treasury Department then issued a temporary licence. Under it, U.S. sanctions do not apply to Russian diesel loaded onto tankers from that Friday until April 2027, the AP reported. The wire service described it as the first easing of diesel sanctions longer than the standard 30-day window since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The 16 October order went further. By NBC's account, it waives a law that lets the president impose tariffs on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, a group that could include China and India. The AP described the same law as authorising tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers and as calling for sanctions on Russian officials, banks and shadow-fleet tankers. The statute requires an unclassified report to Congress justifying any waiver, and Trump said the White House has sent one to Capitol Hill, NBC reported.

Why is the administration doing it?

The stated rationale is fuel prices. Trump said his "Greatest Priority" is "Lower prices for Americans," singling out farmers, ranchers and truckers, according to the AP. NBC reported that diesel prices have risen almost 70% since the war with Iran began in February. AAA data cited by the AP put the U.S. national average at $6.28 a gallon, below the record $6.52 set on 22 September.

Asked on Saturday about the waiver, Trump called it "a very good decision" and said, "A lot of you don't know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out," per NBC. Asked about concerns that Russia would use the proceeds for weapons, he said, "Nobody's telling me anything" and "That's a diesel deal. Not for us," according to NPR.

Moscow welcomed the arrangement. Putin said Russia "confirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products," and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia was lifting its diesel export restrictions early and could begin U.S. supplies this month, the AP reported. Russia had banned diesel exports in July after Ukrainian strikes on refineries.

Who is objecting, and why?

Opposition has been bipartisan. On 13 October, twelve senators, six Republicans and six Democrats, signed a letter urging Trump to rescind the deal. NPR listed the Democrats as Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Dick Durbin, Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen and Sheldon Whitehouse, and the Republicans as Alan Armstrong, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis. Their letter said: "This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies; it should be rescinded."

CBS News reported that the senators also asked Trump to revoke the Treasury waiver and use the authorities in the sanctions law. They acknowledged an "urgent need" to lower energy costs but argued the deal offers "limited to no relief" to Americans and would fund Moscow's war and its cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea.

After the 16 October order, individual Republicans went further, according to NBC. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called the decision "a mistake." Tillis, who is retiring, called it "beyond irresponsible" and noted the law passed the Senate 86-11. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is not seeking re-election, said the president "is prolonging the war, not ending it."

Democrats were equally pointed. Senators Chuck Schumer, Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren called the deal a betrayal of Ukraine and U.S. allies, the AP reported. Blumenthal, a co-sponsor of the law, said it "makes us complicit in Putin's war against Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the October diesel deal "a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners," according to the AP. After the waiver he said lifting the sanctions was "wrong" and "only helps the Russians," NBC reported.

Will it lower prices?

Independent analysts were sceptical. The AP quoted Clayton Seigle of the Center for Strategic and International Studies as saying the price impact would probably be small, and Michael Lynch of the Energy Policy Research Foundation likened it to "shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic."

The administration's position, as stated by Trump and Rubio, is that energy supply is tight and the sanctions carry costs for the U.S. and global economy that need to be weighed. NBC's account contained no defence of the waiver beyond the president's and Rubio's own statements.

What is still unconfirmed?

Several material facts remain unconfirmed. The White House has not said who would pay for the diesel or when cargoes would arrive, the AP reported, and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov would not say whether Washington made concessions. How long the 60-day review will run in practice, and what the report to Congress says, are also unclear. The U.S. has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, the AP noted, so it is unclear how much of the diesel would physically reach American buyers rather than other markets.

What happens next?

Congress is the next test. The law passed with large bipartisan margins, although many Democrats opposed it because it handed the president new tariff powers, according to NBC. Critics must decide whether to pursue a legislative response, and the sources reviewed did not report a specific measure to override the waiver.

The politics cut in two directions. Trump is betting that lower fuel costs matter more to voters than the optics of easing pressure on Moscow, with cost of living a top issue, NBC noted. Republican candidates in competitive races are being pushed to say publicly whether they agree. The 60-day window Rubio described outlasts the election, so the question of whether the sanctions and tariffs take effect passes to the next Congress.