Trump says decision to pause Russia sanctions will benefit the world
In short
President Donald Trump said his decision on sanctions against Russia would benefit the United States and the world. Interfax and RIA Novosti reported that he had paused measures including tariffs on Russia and major buyers of its energy.
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US President Donald Trump said his decision on sanctions against Russia was a good one that would benefit his country and the world, Russian outlets reported on October 18. RIA Novosti described the decision as a refusal to impose tougher sanctions, while Interfax said he had put measures on pause. RBC also reported his assessment, citing the White House press pool. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Speaking to journalists in Florida, Trump said many people did not yet know about his decision but would learn about it, according to Interfax. He said the decision would help the United States and, in his view, the wider world because the issue concerned the entire planet. RIA Novosti likewise reported that he promised further clarity about what he had decided. [ 2 , 4 ]
Interfax said Trump had ordered a pause a day earlier in broad tariffs directed at Russia and the main buyers of Russian energy resources. Those tariffs were provided for by legislation the outlet called the Graham law, which it said Trump had signed earlier in the autumn. The outlet reported that an order published on Saturday explained that imposing the restrictions at present did not meet US national interests. [ 4 ]
RIA Novosti gave further details of the measures Trump had declined to apply. It said these included tariffs of up to 500 percent on direct imports from Russia and up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest countries buying energy from Moscow. The agency also listed restrictions on officials, banks and organisations among the measures covered by the decision. It reported that the White House explained the move as an effort to achieve peace between Moscow and Kyiv. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The decision puts on hold tariffs and other restrictions described in the reports. RIA Novosti said the White House linked the move to efforts to secure peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
Key facts
- Trump described his decision on sanctions against Russia as beneficial for the United States and the world. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax reported that Trump paused tariffs on Russia and major buyers of Russian energy. [ 4 ]
- The published order said imposing the restrictions now did not serve US national interests, Interfax reported. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The reports do not establish when the paused measures might be introduced. No resumption date is given in the supplied documents.