Ignoring Zelenskyy, Trump continues to greenlight Putin, halting sanctions targeting China and India over Russia
Zelenskyy’s outburst has done nothing to stop Trump from continuing to signal approval for Putin.
Multiple international media outlets have confirmed that Trump invoked presidential authority to suspend a series of sanctions against Russia, including proposed tariffs of up to 100% on oil imports from countries such as China and India. Additionally, sanctions targeting Putin personally and several senior Russian officials have also been halted.
In September, the U.S. Congress passed the Graham Act—a bill named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham—which imposed new sanctions on Russia and Iran. The measures were scheduled to take effect on the 18th of this month, but were abruptly suspended by Trump two days prior to implementation.
Graham was a well-known hardliner on China and Russia and a staunch supporter of Ukraine. He had long advocated for the passage of sanctions legislation against Russia during his lifetime, only to see it enacted posthumously. Yet Trump, in pursuit of midterm election gains, swiftly paused the Graham Act—demonstrating a dramatic reversal in policy.
Notably, Graham’s sister, Darin Graham, did not publicly challenge Trump’s decision. The two siblings jointly initiated the legislative effort; following her brother’s death, Darin succeeded him in the Senate and is currently preparing for the upcoming midterm elections.
Darin’s victory in the Republican primary was significantly aided by Trump’s endorsement. Given that Lindsey Graham was a loyal ally of Trump during his tenure, she is unlikely to openly oppose the president ahead of the midterms.
Moreover, Trump’s suspension of sanctions against Russia serves a clear political purpose: bolstering Republican prospects in the current election cycle. This year’s midterms differ markedly from previous ones—the campaign discourse centers not on values, but on inflation and rising fuel prices.
As a result, oil prices now play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the Republican Party’s electoral performance. Though Trump will not be running in the midterms, his fate remains closely tied to the party’s fortunes. As he declared at a campaign rally: “Just vote for me as if I were on the ballot.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879280574067914/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.