Berlin, October 17, 2026
Urgewald expresses concern over President Donald Trump’s decision to waive major sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, including new measures targeting vessels transporting Russian oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and urges the administration to reconsider.
The executive order signed on 16 October invokes the law’s national-interest waiver and sets no fixed expiry date.
The decision comes as Urgewald’s analysis of Kpler data shows that the EU paid an estimated €7.88 billion for LNG from Russia’s Yamal project between January and September 2026, including €1.92 billion in the third quarter alone. EU ports received a record 12.18 million tonnes over those nine months, up 9.5% on the same period last year.
Alexander Kirk, sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, said:
“Republicans and Democrats passed this law in Lindsey Graham’s name to squeeze Russia’s war revenues. Trump has now hollowed it out before its main sanctions could bite. That is a betrayal of the bipartisan effort behind this law and a lifeline to Putin.
“The consequences are measured in billions. Our analysis estimates that the EU paid €7.88 billion for Russian Yamal LNG in just nine months. Trump’s waiver gives the ships sustaining this lucrative trade a reprieve from new sanctions. The Kremlin and the companies keeping its gas exports moving have every reason to celebrate.
“Congress must challenge this retreat and demand that the administration explain whose interests are served by shielding Russia’s energy trade from the pressure this law was designed to impose. Ukraine should not have to pay the price for Washington’s unwillingness to act.
“Europe must now act with urgency. Sanction the tankers, cut off the services that keep them operating, and close the loopholes sustaining Russia’s LNG exports. European governments cannot condemn Putin’s war while allowing European ports and companies to keep his gas business running. Every month of delay means more energy revenue for Russia while Ukrainians pay with their lives.”
Notes to editors
- Scope of the waiver: Section 4 of the executive order waives major sanctions and tariff provisions, including the sanctions requirements under sections 102(a) and 102(e). Section 102 covers foreign vessels knowingly transporting Russian-origin LNG and other energy commodities, alongside specified shipping businesses and port-related activities.
- Existing sanctions: The order does not repeal the Act. It expressly preserves existing sanctions under the earlier Russia-related executive orders it identifies. The waivers have no fixed expiry date.
- LNG estimates: Urgewald’s figures cover completed EU deliveries from Yamal between 1 January and 30 September 2026. They are indicative gross-payment estimates based on cargo volumes and benchmark gas prices, rather than verified contract payments, corporate profits or net Russian state income. Read the analysis and methodology.
ENDS