US President Donald Trump has put on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, arguing in an executive order Friday that the move “is in the national interests of the United States.”

Trump signed an executive order waiving key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, legislation he signed into law last month aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow.

Titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the legislation targeted Russia’s economy, intending to penalize the country over its continued full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The act required the president to increase the rate of duty on Russian goods imported into the U.S. by 500% ad valorem, subject to exceptions.

It also directs Trump to increase by 100% ad valorem the rate of duty on goods from the largest five importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas if the country knowingly makes new purchases of crude oil or natural gas that originated in the Russian Federation on or after October 18, 2026, subject to exceptions.

Trump’s latest order waives these two parts of the Graham Act and comes two days before the law’s implementation deadline.

“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump wrote in the order on Oct. 16.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects Trump to waive other sanctions on Russia, too.

“Sanctions relief will continue,” he posted on X. “I think the diesel deal and the move regarding the Lindsey Graham Act are not the end of it. Unfortunately.”

Zelenskyy warned Saturday that the sanctions relief could encourage Moscow to continue its attacks on Ukraine.

“The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me,” he wrote on X. “It definitely helps only the Russians.”

“This certainly does not stop the war,” he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Saturday evening that the sanctions “include tariffs, sanctions on other countries” and that Trump “wants to take this 60-day period to analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean for the global economy and the U.S. economy.”

Rubio stated that the pause is intended to allow the administration to analyse the consequences of the sanctions and tariffs, which involve multiple countries beyond Russia. He emphasised that the decision was made in light of high energy prices and ongoing conflicts, including the war in Iran, which have placed additional pressure on global energy supplies.

He explained that India has made efforts to diversify its energy imports but continues to rely significantly on Russian oil. He noted that it is challenging for India to shift away from Russian energy sources immediately, despite its status as an important US ally. The waiver, therefore, provides time to evaluate the best approach for all parties involved.

Asked by reporters why he waived the sanctions, Trump said, “You don’t know what my decision is yet, but we’ll figure it out, and you’ll figure it out.”

“It’s a very good decision, and it’s going to be a decision that’s good for the country, and I think good for the world because we’re really at a world stage,” he said.

Trump’s decision to put a hold on the sanctions package comes after he announced a deal eleven days ago with Russian president Vladimir Putin to immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the American and global marketplace, 500,000 tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 tons immediately thereafter.

Additionally, based on the condition of their diesel refineries, Trump said Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 tons of diesel fuel.

Zelenskyy on Saturday said that a potential trilateral meeting involving Russian president Vladimir Putin could take place in one of the Middle Eastern countries or in the United States during the G20 summit or in one of the European countries, adding that confirmation from Washington and Russia was still awaited.

“Regarding a meeting with Putin, the United States is working on this,” he noted. “They have a proposal for a trilateral meeting. This meeting can take place in one of the Middle Eastern countries. The United States has always mentioned the UAE or Saudi Arabia. Another possibility is for the meeting to take place in the United States during the G20 summit. But there has been no confirmation yet from Russia or from the United States. The meeting could also take place in one of the European countries. I know that the Europeans are starting contacts about this. We’ll see how things turn out a little later.”