President Donald Trump signed an executive order exempting Russia from a sanctions measure that Congress passed last month, named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July. The law targeted Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions and gave Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil and gas and up to 500% on Russian imports. The waiver came two days before the law was set to take effect, and the order does not explain why it serves US interests. Critics in Congress condemned the move as a surrender to Putin, coming after Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports to help lower gas prices, a decision that angered Ukraine's President Zelenskyy.
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