President Donald Trump has waived a further set of sanctions tied to Russian fossil fuel sales, days before they were scheduled to take effect under a law he signed last month.
In an order released by the White House on Friday, Trump said he had certified to Congress that issuing the waiver at this time served the national interest of the United States. The underlying law had set up a framework of sanctions tied to Russian energy exports, but it also gave the president authority to delay or waive specific measures, a tool the administration has now used more than once since the legislation was enacted.
The move comes amid a tense stretch in Russia-Ukraine dynamics, which has centered this week on strikes against energy infrastructure on both sides. Ukrainian officials said this week that they were resuming strikes on Russian oil refineries after Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants continued despite earlier calls for restraint. Ukraine also reported a temporary slowdown in Starlink satellite terminals, which its military relies on for communications and drone operations; a senior US official told reporters the White House was not involved, and the service's operator attributed the disruption to a technical issue. Ukrainian officials said service was largely restored by Thursday.
The administration has also been working on broader arrangements involving Ukraine and Russia, including discussions around fuel purchases, as part of a wider diplomatic effort the White House has pursued throughout the year. European leaders, meeting separately in Brussels this week, voiced continued support for Ukraine and discussed ways to supplement its air defense and communications capabilities with European-sourced alternatives.
Congress will have an opportunity to review the certification behind the latest waiver, and energy markets are likely to stay sensitive to any further strikes on refineries or power infrastructure in the region.
What law created these sanctions?
A bill signed by President Trump last month set up a framework of sanctions on Russian fossil fuel sales, with presidential authority to waive specific measures.
Why does this matter for oil prices?
Sanctions waivers affect how much Russian oil can reach global markets, which in turn can influence prices already under pressure from Middle East shipping disruptions.