On October 16, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order suspending the application of a significant portion of the new sanctions against Russia. The very next day, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the authors of the sanctions law, publicly accused the president of pandering to Vladimir Putin. His statement came amid growing dissatisfaction with the White House’s Russian policy—not only among Democrats.
October 17, 2026 | Author: Victoria Katsman | NANews
The reason for the scandal is not another statement by Trump. On September 18, 2026, he himself signed a law aimed at cutting off Russia’s additional sources of funding for the war against Ukraine. Now, two days before the scheduled introduction of a number of restrictions, the president used his right to effectively postpone their application.
“This has nothing to do with national security”
Richard Blumenthal, representing the state of Connecticut, did not mince words.
“Donald Trump once again shows that he is on the side of a bloodthirsty thug and those who support the Russian war machine, rather than the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies,” the senator said.
Separately, he rejected the White House’s explanation of the need to protect the national interests of the United States.
“These exceptions have nothing to do with our national security. It’s all about pandering to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal wrote.
He concluded his address with a call for Republicans to join in condemning “this vile and cowardly act.”
For Washington, this is no longer an ordinary dispute between a Republican president and the Democratic opposition. The law that Trump decided not to apply in significant part received bipartisan support.
Graham’s Law: 500% Tariffs, Russian Banks, and Oil Tankers
The document is called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It is named after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July 2026. Graham consistently advocated for increased economic pressure on Moscow, considering sanctions a way to force the Kremlin to end the war.
The measures provided by the law were painful for the Russian economy: increasing American tariffs on Russian goods by 500%, additional tariffs of 100% on goods from the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas under certain conditions, as well as restrictions against Russian banks, officials, and the oil “shadow fleet.”
The latter term refers to a network of tankers used to transport Russian oil, including for the purpose of circumventing Western restrictions.
However, in the order of October 16, Trump applied Article 115 of the law, allowing the president to introduce exceptions for reasons of national interest. These exceptions remain until a new decision by the American administration.
Previous sanctions did not automatically disappear. But a significant portion of the new pressure tools remain on paper for now.
Is Russian diesel more important than new sanctions?
A week before the order, Trump announced an agreement with Moscow on the supply of Russian diesel fuel to global markets. According to the stated conditions, it initially involved more than 300,000 tons, then an additional 500,000 tons in November, and further supplies.
The White House hopes to reduce energy prices, which have risen amid the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. For the Israeli reader, the connection here is direct: the situation around Iran affects fuel costs and international trade, and Washington’s attempts to stabilize the market now affect the sanctions policy against Russia.
But American lawmakers questioned the benefit of the deal.
On October 13, twelve senators, including six Republicans, demanded that Trump abandon the diesel agreement. In their opinion, purchases of Russian fuel create additional income for Moscow, which continues military actions against Ukraine.
NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency has already reported on the conflict between Trump and Zelensky over Russian diesel and strikes on oil refineries. Kyiv considers Russian oil infrastructure a legitimate military target, as revenues from energy exports help finance the Russian army.
In Moscow, they welcome it, in Congress, they demand explanations
The Russian reaction was swift. Putin’s representative for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, called the American decision “a truly historic moment.”
In the American Congress, the assessment was the opposite.
Democratic Congressman Don Beyer stated that Trump once again yielded to Putin, betrayed Ukrainian partners, and ignored the will of lawmakers. He proposed to amend the law provisions that allow the president to wield sanctioning powers so freely.
The political moment is especially inconvenient for Republicans: on November 3, the U.S. will hold midterm elections to Congress. Fuel prices remain a sensitive topic for voters, and the administration is trying to show that it can influence the situation.
The question now is what the price of such a decision will be for Ukraine.
The Congress law was supposed to increase pressure on Moscow. The president, who signed it himself, preferred to use the mechanism of exceptions. Russia gets a reprieve from new restrictions, while Ukraine continues to face Russian strikes and threats to its energy system.
And while Washington debates national interests, the main question remains open: what exactly will make Putin stop the war if even the sanctions agreed upon by the American Congress can be postponed with a single presidential order?