Donald Trump has suspended sanctions on Russian fuels amid tensions with Ukraine and pressure to reduce oil prices

U.S. President Donald Trump suspended a new set of sanctions targeting Russian fossil fuel sales on Friday through an executive order. The measures were due to take effect within days under legislation enacted last month, and the delay comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv.

The legislation provided for tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported into the United States from major importers of Russian crude oil or gas. Revenue from these exports is considered essential to financing the Kremlin’s war effort.

Trump told Congress that granting a waiver is, at this time, in the national interest of the United States. The decision comes after the White House pressured Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities in an effort to limit rising fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections.

Kyiv temporarily accepted the request but later resumed the attacks, while Russia continued bombing Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Trump also recently authorized Russian diesel exports, a decision criticized by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. lawmakers from both parties.

Relations between the United States and Ukraine are also strained by the apparent reduction in U.S. intelligence sharing and restrictions on the Starlink satellite internet service.