Trump Delays Russia Sanctions for 60 Days as White House Reviews Economic Impact

Trump signed the Graham Act last month — now he is pausing it for 60 days, and Congress and Kyiv are split

October 18, 2026 — President Donald Trump will take up to 60 days to decide whether to enforce new Russia sanctions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday, October 17, a day after Trump waived measures under the Graham Act due to take effect next week.

Image: Washington at dusk with an hourglass and oil barrels symbolising a 60-day sanctions pause. Credit: AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News, original illustration.

Editor's Highlight: The pause does not cancel the law. It uses the law's own waiver power to hold off new duties — including tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas — while the administration studies their effect on fuel prices weeks before the November midterm elections.

Table of Contents

• What Happened on Friday and Saturday
• What the Graham Act Would Do
• Why Energy Prices Are Driving the Timing
• The Diesel Agreement
• Reaction in Washington and Kyiv
• Bottom Line
• FAQ
• Sources

Key Facts

Decision	Trump waived key Graham Act sanctions and tariffs on Friday, October 16
Review period	Up to 60 days to assess economic impact, according to Rubio
Law	Graham Act, signed last month, named for late Sen. Lindsey Graham
Aim of law	Pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine
Measures paused	Sanctions on Russian exports and tariffs on buyers of Russian oil and gas
Trump comment	He said he has not announced a final decision yet
Critics	President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several U.S. lawmakers

What Happened on Friday and Saturday

On Friday, Trump signed an executive order putting a sweeping new sanctions package on hold.

According to the Associated Press, he told Congress the pause was in the national interest.

According to Reuters, the measures were due to take effect next week. Friday's order did not specify how long the waiver would last.

On Saturday, Rubio supplied the timeline. He said the president wants the 60-day period to analyse what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean.

Trump kept his options open. "A lot of you don't know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out," he told reporters at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, according to Reuters.

Newsroom Focus: This is a delay, not a final decision.

What the Graham Act Would Do

The law is known as the Graham Act. Trump signed it last month at the urging of lawmakers who want to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

It includes sanctions on Russian exports. It also includes tariffs affecting countries that purchase Russian oil and gas.

The AP notes the law was named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. According to the AP, Graham had just returned from Ukraine when he died in July, and he had advocated for stricter sanctions.

His colleagues responded with bipartisan support after his death, the AP reports.

Date	Event
Last month	Trump signed the Graham Act
Friday, October 16	Trump waived key measures by executive order
Saturday, October 17	Rubio announced a review of up to 60 days
Next week	Original date measures were due to take effect

Why Energy Prices Are Driving the Timing

Rubio said the review will consider effects on both the U.S. economy and the global economy. He spoke before boarding a plane for Uzbekistan, according to Reuters.

Reuters reports the waiver comes just weeks before November's midterm elections. Trump is under pressure over high energy prices as war with Iran disrupts global oil supplies, according to Reuters.

Rubio pointed to India as a complicating factor. He described India as an important U.S. partner that has diversified its supplies but remains heavily dependent on Russian oil.

Analysis Note: As Rubio framed it, the choice is not only about Russia. It is also about fuel markets, partner countries, and prices at home.

The Diesel Agreement

Rubio also defended a separate U.S. agreement with Russia on diesel supplies, according to Reuters.

The agreement aims to ease fuel prices, which have climbed amid the war with Iran.

Under the agreement, Trump said Russia initially would supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States, according to Reuters. Further shipments would follow in November and beyond.

"That diesel is going to be sold one way or the other," Rubio said, according to Reuters. "The only difference is how much of it the United States was going to get."

The AP said the decision came a week after Trump said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to lower prices.

Reaction in Washington and Kyiv

According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the waiver would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and prolong the war.

Senator Darline Graham, a South Carolina Republican and the late senator's sister, said she disagreed, according to Reuters.

"Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia," she said on Saturday, according to Reuters. "Because I don't trust Putin and I don't trust Russia."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut had drafted the bill, according to the AP. He said Trump was turning his back on the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and European allies.

"These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin," Blumenthal said, in a statement quoted by the AP. That is his claim; the administration's stated reason is a national-interest pause for economic review.

"These conflicts around the world are starting to crash into each other," Rubio said, according to Reuters.

Bottom Line

Trump has paused a law he signed only last month, and given himself up to 60 days to decide its future.

The stated reason is economic impact, especially energy prices. The criticism, from Kyiv and from lawmakers in both parties, is that a pause eases pressure on Russia.

Watch for any White House statement narrowing the timeline — or confirming that some measures will take effect after all.

FAQ

What did Trump waive on Friday?

Key sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, according to Reuters and the AP. They targeted Russian exports and countries buying Russian oil and gas.

How long is the review?

Up to 60 days, according to Rubio on October 17. Friday's order itself did not specify a duration.

Why does India matter?

Rubio pointed to India as an important partner that remains heavily dependent on Russian oil, according to Reuters. Tariffs on energy buyers could affect India directly.

Has Trump made a final decision?

No. He told reporters at Mar-a-Lago his decision was not yet known, according to Reuters.

What is the diesel agreement?

A separate agreement for Russia to supply diesel to global markets, including more than 300,000 metric tons initially to the United States, according to Reuters.

Sources

• Reuters via 98.5 The River: https://985theriver.com/2026/10/17/rubio-says-trump-to-take-up-to-60-days-to-weigh-russia-sanctions-2/
• Associated Press via Yahoo: https://trump.fiorreports.com/trump-visits-kentucky-for-13th-rally-in-the-last-month-as-midterms-approach-yahoo/
• KABC: https://www.kabc.com/2026/10/18/trump-delays-russia-sanctions-for-60-days-as-white-house-reviews-economic-impact/
• CNBC-TV18 on YouTube (video above)
• Hero image — AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News, original illustration