The U.S. president said it would be in the national interest to waive the sanctions for now.
U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn as he departs the White House on Oct. 12, 2026. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Oct. 16 waiving sanctions, restrictions, and duties targeting the top five countries that purchase Russian oil and gas.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” the president said in his order.
The order did not specify how the waiver would serve the national interests.
Legislation championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and signed into law by Trump on Sept. 18 would have imposed sanctions on the top five countries that purchase oil and gas from Russia over its war against Ukraine.
Under that new law, goods imported from the five major importers of Russian oil and gas would have faced tariffs of up to 100 percent, while Russian imports would have been subject to new tariffs of up to 500 percent, according to the executive order.
The order states that the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act gives the president the authority to waive any sanctions provision if doing so is deemed to be in the national interest.
It also stated that the waivers would remain in effect until the president or the secretary of state determines that “further action is appropriate.”
Trump said last week that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply diesel to the United States in exchange for a temporary lifting of sanctions against Moscow.
In an Oct. 9 Truth Social post, Trump said Russia would supply over 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global marketplace, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million tons expected thereafter.
The president also noted that Russia could deliver another 3 million tons of diesel “within a short period of time” afterward, depending on the condition of refineries.
“Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!” he said in the post.
“Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.”
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Oct. 12 that diesel exports could reach 3 million to 3.5 million metric tons per month by the end of the year, exceeding the volume announced by Trump.
Novak also said that under the deal with Trump, Russian diesel supplies will partially balance global supply and demand.
“We will see how the situation develops further, but Russia has the capacity to increase diesel fuel exports,” he said on state TV channel Rossiya-24.
Trump’s executive order did not name the five major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show that China and India are the largest buyers of Russian crude oil, accounting for 50 percent and 36 percent, respectively, followed by Turkey and the European Union, each at 6 percent.
Jill McLaughlin and Owen Evans contributed to this report.