2026-10-19 · contested story
Zelenskyy says Trump is ‘rewarding Putin’ as he waives new Russia sanctions passed by Congress - NBC News
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday, October 16-17, 2026, waiving sweeping new sanctions and tariffs against Russia under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act — a bipartisan law he himself signed just last month that passed the Senate 86-11. The waiver came two days before the measures (including up to 100% tariffs on top buyers of Russian oil like China and India, and 500% tariffs on Russian goods) were set to take effect, and followed a separate deal to import Russian diesel to ease fuel prices ahead of the November midterms. Trump certified the waiver was 'in the national interests of the United States.' Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the move as a 'financial reward for Putin' that 'only helps the Russians,' while a Kremlin envoy hailed it as 'an important and truly historic moment.'
How each side frames it
left
"A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking."
"Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Russia had launched one of its worst strikes yet against the country's energy infrastructure, hitting more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities and causing 'severe consequences.'"
"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"
"which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that has resulted in an estimated 1.4 million casualties"
"All these things together seem to indicate a clear shift away from backing Ukraine to backing Putin and Russia in this, their latest aggression and land grab."
center
"The decision drew criticism from Democrats and mixed reactions from Republican lawmakers."
"It does not even touch the sides – it is very, very small"
"The louder the bipartisan anti-Russia chorus gets, the more Trump doubles down on pulling back the pressure."
"Trump's decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seen"
"The moves mark an about-face for the United States, which has imposed tight restrictions on Russian oil and gas for years"
right
"President waiving new Russia tariffs under late senator's Graham Act while preserving power to reinstate them"
"Trump said the waiver was in the "national interests of the United States.""
"That deal came as diesel prices have risen amid the wars in Iran and Ukraine, with Republicans urging Trump to bring costs down ahead of November's midterm elections."
"Glad to see Trump has used the executive authority granted to him by Congress to waive almost all of the provisions of this stupid law that pertain to Russia."
What each side left out
The right left out — covered by the ABC News & NBC News & Axios & The Guardian
- Republican senators' sharp criticism (McConnell, Tillis, Collins, Cornyn, Cruz)
- Zelenskyy's 'reward for Putin' condemnation
- Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure / winter blackout threat
The right left out — covered by the CBS News & DW.com & The Guardian
- Kremlin envoy Dmitriev calling it 'historic moment'
The left left out — covered by the CNBC & ABC News & DW.com
- Expert analysis that the diesel deal's financial benefit to Russia is marginal (under $30M/month)
- Massie's pro-waiver defense
- Balanced reporting of Russian Defense Ministry claims
The left left out — covered by the Fox Business & ABC News & CBS News
- The waiver's reversibility / that Trump retains power to reinstate sanctions
The center left out — covered by the NPR & Politico
- The explicit interpretive conclusion that this is a 'clear shift to backing Putin'
- War casualty totals (1.4 million)
What's actually true?
[verified] Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act two days before they were set to take effect, certifying the waiver was 'in the national interests of the United States.'
[verified] The Graham Act passed the Senate by a margin of 86-11.
[verified] The law would have imposed up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian crude oil/natural gas (including China and India) and up to 500% tariffs on Russian goods.
[verified] A Russian presidential envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, called the suspension of the Graham Act 'an important and truly historic moment.'
[verified] The waiver followed a deal in which Russia agreed to supply the global market with roughly 4.8 million metric tons of diesel.
[verified] Experts say the diesel deal's benefit to Russia's federal budget is marginal — under $30 million per month, less than 0.07% of monthly federal revenues — making its main value to Moscow political rather than financial.
[verified] Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would be a 60-day pause to analyze the impact of sanctions and tariffs on the U.S. and global economy.
[verified] Russia launched one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine's energy sector since the 2022 invasion, targeting more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities.
The narrative clash
Whether the diesel/sanctions deal meaningfully rewards Russia financially
Left: Suspending the sanctions provides Russia a financial lifeline.
Right: the benefit to Russia's federal budget would be substantially smaller, at less than $30 million per month, or under 0.07% of monthly federal revenues
Whether the waiver is a permanent capitulation or a reversible pause
Left: significantly dulling the tool Congress handed him to pressure Moscow to the negotiating table
Right: President waiving new Russia tariffs under late senator's Graham Act while preserving power to reinstate them
12 sources analyzed
The Guardian ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos Fox Business NBC News Axios The Washington Post CNBC NPR DW.com Politico AP News CBS News