‘Beyond Irresponsible’: Republicans on Capitol Hill Denounce Trump’s Decision To Waive Russia Sanctions

Republicans on Capitol Hill are denouncing President Trump’s decision to waive a series of new sanctions on Russian exports.Mr. Trump announced the waiver late Friday, two days before the sanctions targeting Russian leaders, financial institutions, and exports were set to take effect. Mr. Trump noted that the sanctions law, part of a bipartisan bill named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, gave him the authority to waive sanctions if he submits a written certification that the move is in the national security interests of America. While Mr. Trump said he had submitted the required certification to Congress, he did not publicly explain why the move was in the country’s national security interests. It comes as he has increasingly sought to turn up the pressure on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, while looking to Russia for help easing diesel prices.On Saturday morning, Republicans in Congress criticized the move. Senator Thom Tillis called it “beyond irresponsible.”“It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day,” Mr. Tillis said. Senator John Cornyn wrote that Graham “would be appalled” by the decision. And Congressman Don Bacon said that by waiving the sanctions, Mr. Trump is “prolonging the war, not ending it.”Democrats also denounced the decision. Congressman Don Beyer said Mr. Trump’s action “defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression.” He said Congress should “fix this flawed law” and eliminate the provision that gives Mr. Trump the ability to waive sanctions. In Kyiv, Mr. Zelensky called the waiver regrettable. He wrote on X that the law “could have—and still can!—help[ed] a great deal.” But he said it “needs to actually work.”A special envoy for the president of Russia, Kirill Dmitriev, called Mr. Trump’s decision an “important and truly historic moment.”“Economic cooperation between Russia and the United States serves the interests of both countries, contributes to the stability of the global economy, and lays the foundation for building trust and achieving lasting peace,” he said. Last week, Mr. Trump announced that he had reached a deal with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, to acquire more than 3 million tons of diesel from Russia over the next few months. Democrats and several Republican lawmakers blasted the move, saying it would give Russia an economic lifeline. A Republican congressman, Brian Fitzpatrick, said he would introduce legislation to “block any and all purchases of Russian oil.”Mr. Trump has said that adding Russian fuel to the global market will help bring prices down. However, energy analysts say that the addition of Russian diesel to the marketplace will not make a meaningful difference on prices. The president also lashed out at Mr. Zelensky, telling reporters last week that Ukraine should “get a new leader” who can “make a deal because he could have made many deals” and “he never does.”

‘Beyond Irresponsible’: Republicans on Capitol Hill Denounce Trump’s Decision To Waive Russia Sanctions

‘Beyond Irresponsible’: Republicans on Capitol Hill Denounce Trump’s Decision To Waive Russia Sanctions

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