Trump Defends Russia Sanctions Delay as GOP Pushes Back — SkimNews
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- President Trump is defending his decision to delay new sanctions on Russia, arguing the move keeps Moscow at the negotiating table while he works to end the war in Ukraine
- GOP senators are publicly airing frustration over the sanctions waiver, with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Thom Tillis among those pushing back against the administration's decision
- The decision marks a deliberate pause in economic pressure on Russia, with Trump explicitly framing it as a tactical diplomatic choice rather than a permanent lifting of sanctions
- Internal GOP dissatisfaction is growing despite the administration's stated rationale, signaling friction between Trump's negotiating posture and lawmakers who favor a harder line on Moscow
- The waiver arrives as Trump continues his broader push to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with negotiations — not punishment — as the stated priority
- Trump is traveling to Kansas as the Russia sanctions controversy intensifies on Capitol Hill, underscoring the domestic political stakes of his foreign policy calculation
Why it matters: By choosing to leave sanctions leverage in reserve rather than tighten the screws, Trump is betting that Moscow stays at the table — but more than 20 GOP-aligned lawmakers are already publicly objecting, exposing a rare split between the White House and his own party on Russia policy. The delay gives Putin diplomatic breathing room while giving Trump's Ukraine peace effort political risk at home.
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