President Trump Puts Russia Sanctions on Hold as Moscow Hails Historic Step Toward Peace

President Trump signed an executive order Friday night putting a sweeping new package of sanctions against Russia on hold, declaring the decision to be in the national interest of the United States. The sanctions, approved by Congress and signed into law last month, included restrictions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy operations, along with tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and natural gas. The White House confirmed that President Trump formally notified Congress of his decision. Existing sanctions against Russia remain in place, while the new measures are being waived for now.

Following the announcement, Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for economic cooperation, praised the decision as an important and historic moment in U.S.-Russia relations. Dmitriev said economic dialogue and peacemaking efforts between Washington and Moscow will continue, emphasizing that cooperation between the two nations serves their mutual interests, strengthens global economic stability, and helps build the foundation for lasting peace. He stressed that instead of sanctions and confrontation, both nations should pursue dialogue, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared responsibility for global stability.

The developments signal a potentially significant shift in U.S.-Russia relations as President Trump continues his diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.