Trump waives sanctions on Russian trading partners, drawing GOP backlash

Diesel waiver and 60-day policy raise concerns over boosting Moscow's war funds

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The Trump administration has waived sanctions on Russia's trading partners, following a previous waiver on Russian diesel, sparking a fresh wave of Republican criticism as experts warn the moves could pad Moscow's tax revenue.

The Trump administration is delivering a string of victories for the Russian economy, according to a Semafor report. Within weeks of waiving sanctions on Russian diesel, President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russia's trading partners, prompting a fresh wave of GOP pushback that is building by the hour.

"I want to see those used," Senator Katie Britt of Alabama said earlier Monday, referring to sanctions enforcement tools. Neither waiver is projected to have much long-term effect on US prices. But one expert estimated that the diesel waiver alone could help Russian exporters net $30 to $40 more per ton, in turn padding Moscow's tax revenue.

The United Kingdom last year estimated that global sanctions had previously deprived Russia of $450 billion in war funds, including $154 billion in lost oil revenue and $285 billion in frozen central bank reserves.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Semafor that both waivers were necessary to "see this brutal war [in Ukraine] come to an end," echoing an argument Trump made on Truth Social. "Enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing US efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia," Rogers said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, has argued that the latest waiver did not provide Russia with sanctions relief because "no sanctions were lifted." "There is a 60-day period so we can examine what's going on," he told NBC News.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The waivers could provide significant financial relief to Russia at a critical point in the Ukraine war, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the international sanctions regime.
Republican criticism signals growing intra-party tension over the administration's approach to Russia, which may complicate future policy and negotiations.
The 60-day period creates a window for further diplomatic maneuvering, with unclear implications for Ukraine's position in peace talks.

Background

The Trump administration has taken a series of steps that critics say benefit Russia economically, including waiving sanctions on Russian diesel and, most recently, on Russia's trading partners. These actions come as the US seeks a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine. The UK has previously estimated that sanctions had cost Russia $450 billion in war funding, making the waivers particularly consequential.

Key Perspectives

The Trump administration: Both waivers are necessary to facilitate peace negotiations and end the brutal war in Ukraine. Enforcing sanctions would impede diplomatic efforts. Republican critics (e.g., Senator Katie Britt): Sanctions enforcement tools must be used. The waivers risk emboldening Russia and reducing pressure on Moscow. Experts and foreign governments: The waivers could boost Russian tax revenue by tens of dollars per ton of diesel, undermining the sanctions regime that has already deprived Russia of hundreds of billions in war funds.

What to Watch

Whether additional sanctions waivers are granted during the 60-day period.
The reaction from European allies and Ukraine to the policy shift.
Potential legislative action from Congress to reimpose sanctions or restrict the president's waiver authority.

Sources

US sanction waivers are Russian economic boon · Semafor

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedTrump waives sanctions on Russian trading partnersSemafor: “President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russia’s trading partners”
Supporteddrawing GOP backlashSemafor: “prompting a fresh wave of GOP pushback”
SupportedDiesel waiver and 60-day policy raise concerns over boosting Moscow's war fundsSemafor: “one expert estimated the diesel waiver alone could help Russian exporters net $30 to $40 more per ton, in turn padding Moscow’s tax revenue”
SupportedThe Trump administration has waived sanctions on Russia's trading partners, following a previous waiver on Russian dieselSemafor: “Within weeks of waiving sanctions on Russian diesel, President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russia’s trading partners”
Supportedsparking a fresh wave of Republican criticism as experts warn the moves could pad Moscow's tax revenueSemafor: “prompting a fresh wave of GOP pushback”
SupportedThe Trump administration is delivering a string of victories for the Russian economy, according to a Semafor report.Semafor: “The Trump administration is delivering a string of victories — for the Russian economy.”
Supported"I want to see those used," Senator Katie Britt of Alabama said earlier Monday, referring to sanctions enforcement tools.Semafor: “"I want to see those used," Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said earlier Monday.”
SupportedNeither waiver is projected to have much long-term effect on US prices.Semafor: “Neither waiver is projected to have much long-term effect on US prices.”
Supportedone expert estimated that the diesel waiver alone could help Russian exporters net $30 to $40 more per ton, in turn padding Moscow's tax revenue.Semafor: “But one expert estimated the diesel waiver alone could help Russian exporters net $30 to $40 more per ton, in turn padding Moscow’s tax revenue.”
SupportedThe United Kingdom last year estimated that global sanctions had previously deprived Russia of $450 billion in war funds, including $154 billion in lost oil revenue and $285 billion in frozen central bank reserves.Semafor: “The UK last year estimated that global sanctions had previously deprived Russia of $450 billion in war funds, including $154 billion in lost oil revenue and $285 billion in frozen central bank reserves.”
SupportedWhite House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Semafor that both waivers were necessary to 'see this brutal war [in Ukraine] come to an end,' echoing an argument Trump made on Truth Social.Semafor: “White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Semafor both waivers were necessary to 'see this brutal war [in Ukraine] come to an end,' echoing an argument Trump made on Truth Social.”
SupportedTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, has argued that the latest waiver did not provide Russia with sanctions relief because 'no sanctions were lifted.' 'There is a 60-day period so we can examine what’s going on,' he told NBC News.Semafor: “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, has argued that the latest waiver did not provide Russia with sanctions relief because 'no sanctions were lifted.' 'There is a 60-day period so we can examine what’s going on,' he told NBC News.”