President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday night exempting Russia from a new sanctions measure that Congress passed last month. The New York Times said the order offered an economic lifeline to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the United States turned to Russia for help lowering gas prices. [E5]
The order says Trump is waiving the application of sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. [E1]
The order says Trump submitted Congress a certification that issuing the waiver was in the national interests of the United States. [E2]
Section 115(a) waives duties provided for in Sections 112 and 113 of the Graham Act or the order itself. [E3]
The Section 4 waivers remain effective until the president or the Secretary of State, consulting the Treasury secretary and trade representative as appropriate, determines that further action is appropriate. [E4]
This paper's Oct. 16 coverage reported that Ukraine's air-defence forces had neutralized 536 of 580 drones used to attack Ukraine; the change since then is the U.S. waiver order under the Graham Act. [E6]