Rubio: Trump to Take Up to 60 Days to Weigh Russia Sanctions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump will take up to 60 days to assess how sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia would affect the economy. Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving the key restrictions provided for by the law known as the Graham Act. The decision comes just weeks before November's midterm elections to the U.S. Congress, with the president under pressure over high energy prices as the war with Iran disrupts global oil supplies.

What was waived

Trump signed the Graham Act last month, after lawmakers urged him to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The law foresaw tariffs on Russian goods and penalties on countries buying Russian oil and gas, due to take effect next week. Friday's order did not say how long the waiver would last, but Rubio said Trump chose a 60-day review.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he had not yet announced a final decision.

Rubio pointed to complications: the law calls not only for sanctions on Russia but also for tariffs on countries that import Russian energy. He named India, an important U.S. partner that has diversified its energy supplies but remains heavily dependent on Russian oil.

Reaction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that the order would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and prolong the war. Senator Darline Graham, a South Carolina Republican whose late brother Lindsey Graham championed the legislation, said she disagreed with the decision and plans to discuss it with Trump when he campaigns for her next week. She said she would personally keep the pressure on Russia.

Diesel

Rubio also defended a separate U.S. agreement with Russia to increase diesel supplies to global markets, meant to ease fuel prices that have risen amid the war with Iran. According to Trump, Russia would initially supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States, with shipments continuing in November and beyond. Rubio said the diesel would be sold anyway, and the only difference was how much of it the United States would receive.