Rubio says Trump’s Russia sanctions waiver is a 60-day pause for economic analysis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump’s decision to waive sweeping sanctions and tariffs on Russia constitutes a 60-day pause intended to analyze the measures' impact on the global and US economies. The waiver, signed via executive order on October 16, 2026, exempts Russia from restrictions under the Graham Act just days before they were set to take effect.

Rationale for the Pause

Rubio explained that the administration requires time to assess how the sanctions, which include tariffs on multiple countries such as India, affect global markets. "The president wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyse what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the US economy," Rubio said. He noted that the economic restrictions involve a number of countries, not just Russia.

The Secretary of State cited interconnected global conflicts, including the war in Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the war in Ukraine, as factors impacting energy prices. "These conflicts around the world are starting to crash into each other, and they're having an impact not just on global oil and diesel prices" but on economies as well, Rubio said. He added that the administration needs to "take all of that into account and weigh it against each other."

Regarding Russian diesel exports, Rubio argued that the fuel would reach the global market regardless of US policy. "The diesel that Putin was going to sell, they will make it available to the global market one way or the other. The only difference is how much of it the United States was going to get," he said. Rubio also referenced a previous 60-day waiver on Russian oil during challenges in the Strait of Hormuz.

Bipartisan Criticism

The move has drawn sharp criticism from members of Congress across the political spectrum. Republican Senator Thom Tillis described the decision as "beyond irresponsible" and a capitulation "to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine." Tillis suggested alternative methods for addressing energy costs, stating, "If the President wants to actually bring down energy prices, he can do it by solving the Iran problem, not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin."

Republican Senator Rick Scott emphasized that Russia is the aggressor and stated the US has "to do everything we can to put economic pressure on Russia." Senator Ted Cruz, a senior Republican from Texas, called the move "a mistake" in comments aired on Fox News. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who helped draft the Graham Act, also sharply criticized Trump for refusing to take further steps to pressure Russia under the law.

Ukrainian and Russian Reactions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that the US would continue to lift sanctions, stating, "Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue, and I believe that the ‘diesel deal’ is the first step." He added, "Unfortunately, it seems to me that this cannot stop Putin; on the contrary, he feels joy and happiness that he has such support."

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with US presidential envoy Jared Kushner on Friday. The US is reportedly working to arrange a three-way meeting involving Zelenskyy, Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Russian Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defense units intercepted and destroyed nearly 200 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on Saturday. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, announced that two Moscow airports, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, had suspended flight operations. Romania also reported shooting down two Russian drones over the Black Sea.

Why it matters

The waiver represents a significant shift in US policy toward Russia, overriding legislation passed by Congress in September. The decision highlights the tension between geopolitical pressure on Moscow and domestic economic concerns, particularly regarding energy prices ahead of midterm elections. The bipartisan backlash underscores the political risks associated with easing sanctions on Russia, while Ukraine fears a continued erosion of international pressure on Moscow.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Ukraine war briefing: Trump’s sanctions waiver is a ‘60-day pause’ to analyse economic impact, says Rubio | Russia | The Guardian
• france24.com: Rubio says Trump to 'analyze' global impact of Russia sanctions during pause - France 24
• pravda.com.ua: Rubio explains Trump's 60-day waiver of Graham Act sanctions on Russia | Ukrainska Pravda

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.