When Americans hear the word sanctions, it can sound like something a president can flip on and off. In practice, it is often messier: sanctions and tariffs can be written into law, adjusted through executive action, and debated through the language of diplomacy.
That tension is now front and center after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump will take up to 60 days to evaluate the economic consequences of Russia-related sanctions and tariffs tied to Russian exports that Trump waived the day before.
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What happened
Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the law known as the Graham Act, which he signed last month at the urging of lawmakers who want to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
The measures, including tariffs on Russian goods and penalties on countries buying Russian oil and gas, were due to take effect next week. Friday’s order did not specify how long the waiver would last, but Rubio said Trump opted for a 60-day review.
Trump, speaking Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, told reporters: “A lot of you don't know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out,” adding that he has yet to announce a final decision.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote that his decision-making was aimed at avoiding anything “that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the order, warning it would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and prolong the war.
Rubio on the timeline
Rubio said Trump wants more time to evaluate the situation, including the economic effects of imposing both sanctions and tariffs.
“I think the president wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the US economy,” Rubio said before boarding a plane for a trip to Uzbekistan.
Why the pause matters
Analysis: Rubio framed the waiver as a time-limited review focused on economic consequences, while Trump framed it as avoiding steps that could push Russia away from negotiations. The practical effect is a pause: measures that were set to begin next week are on hold while the administration weighs its next move.
The diesel deal
Rubio on Saturday also defended a separate U.S. agreement with Russia to increase diesel supplies to global markets, aimed at easing fuel prices that have climbed amid the war with Iran and disruptions to energy supplies.
“That diesel is going to be sold one way or the other,” Rubio said. “The only difference is how much of it the United States was going to get.”
Under the agreement, Trump said Russia initially would supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States, followed by shipments in November and beyond.
The diesel agreement is “a carrot to try to end the war, not an economic lifeline” to Russia, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. But, Wright added, “the only way they can get additional diesel to export is if they turn down the conflict with Ukraine.”
Energy and conflict overlap
Rubio said the diesel deal and sanctions waiver reflected the challenge of managing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine that have disrupted global energy supplies.
“These conflicts around the world are starting to crash into each other,” Rubio said.
Key takeaways
- Rubio said Trump will take up to 60 days to assess the economic impact of Russia-related sanctions and tariffs tied to Russian exports that he waived by executive order.
- The waiver covers key measures under the Graham Act, which Trump signed last month at the urging of lawmakers pressing for tougher action over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- The measures were due to take effect next week, but Friday’s order did not specify how long the waiver would last.
- A separate diesel agreement would bring more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel initially to the United States, followed by shipments in November and beyond.