Donald Trump has blocked a series of sanctions against Russia just two days before they were scheduled to come into force, according to BBC News, intensifying tensions with Ukraine and drawing criticism from across the US political spectrum.
The president issued an executive order on Friday night suspending numerous provisions of a sanctions law that Congress had passed and he had signed in September. Trump stated that waiving some of the penalties was in the US national interest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by saying it was unfortunate that the United States had decided to “completely disregard” the sanctions, which he said “could have helped enormously” in bringing the war to an end.
Scope of the suspended sanctions
The sanctions legislation had given Trump broad authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas – most notably China and India. The law also targeted senior Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin, Russian financial institutions and Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of vessels used to evade existing embargoes.
Many of these provisions have now been waived. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the waiver “an important and truly historic moment”, claiming the sanctions would have inflicted “serious damage” primarily on the US and global market.
The move comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Washington and Kyiv. Last week the US struck a controversial agreement to import Russian diesel in an effort to reduce domestic energy prices, which have surged during the Iran war. Ukraine accused the Trump administration of effectively investing in Russia’s war effort.
Bipartisan pushback
Virginia Congressman Don Beyer, a Democrat, accused Trump of surrendering to Moscow and betraying Ukrainian partners. “Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression,” Beyer wrote on social media.
Several Republican lawmakers also voiced opposition. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, typically a Trump ally, called the decision a mistake, telling Fox News that there were alternative ways to address diesel prices. “The current path, unfortunately, just benefits Putin and that’s not a good idea,” he said.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina described the waiver as “beyond irresponsible”, noting that the sanctions legislation had passed with overwhelming bipartisan support – only eleven senators voted against it.
Zelensky emphasised the need for robust sanctions on Saturday morning, pointing to overnight Russian attacks on fifteen Ukrainian energy facilities that caused power cuts across several regions. “Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine – right before winter,” he said, adding that it was “important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening” on the ground.
Additional concerns over US support
Concerns about US backing for Ukraine have been compounded by disruption to Starlink, a US-provided satellite system critical to Ukrainian military operations. Last week the system unexpectedly restricted the speed at which drones could fly while maintaining internet connection, hampering battlefield missions and Ukraine’s ability to defend against incoming Russian attacks.
Zelensky told reporters that US officials attributed the speed restrictions to technical issues, but Ukrainian tests on EU territory found no such problems and the system operated at higher speeds there. Trump has denied deliberately slowing down the network or halting intelligence-sharing.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed that at least nine people were killed and around sixty injured in Russian strikes across the country over the past twenty-four hours, including an ambulance driver killed in an attack on the city of Kherson.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The weakening of US sanctions against Russia and the apparent shift in Washington’s support for Ukraine carry significant implications for Poles in Britain. The UK has been one of Ukraine’s strongest backers, and any reduction in American commitment could increase pressure on European nations – including Britain – to fill the gap in military and financial assistance.
For Polish communities in the UK, this may translate into heightened political debate about defence spending and European security. Poland has been particularly vocal about the Russian threat and has welcomed large numbers of Ukrainian refugees since the invasion began. Changes in US policy could affect the broader security environment in Central and Eastern Europe, a matter of direct concern to Poles both in Poland and abroad.
Those following developments or supporting relatives in Poland or Ukraine should monitor official UK government statements on continued support for Ukraine and any changes to refugee or humanitarian programmes. The situation remains fluid as negotiations between Ukrainian and US officials are expected to continue next week.
