Travel & Experiences · 9 Proficient · October 17, 2026

Trump Blocks Russia Sanctions as Law Takes Effect

Photo: Oleksandr Plakhota via Pexels

Vocabulary

withhold /wɪðˈhoʊld/ verb

to refuse to give or provide something that is due or desired

Trump chose to withhold certain sanctions even though Congress had voted to impose them.

circumvent /ˌsɜːrkəmˈvent/ verb

to find a way around a rule, restriction, or obstacle without directly violating it

Russia has used a shadow fleet of tankers to circumvent existing international sanctions.

bipartisan /ˌbaɪˈpɑːrtɪzən/ adjective

supported by or involving members of two opposing political parties

The lawmakers issued a bipartisan letter urging Trump to implement the sanctions law fully.

Article

US President Donald Trump used an executive order to suspend portions of a new sanctions law targeting Russia, claiming certain measures conflict with American national interests. Congress had passed the law, named after late Senator Lindsey Graham, to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Trump had signed the bill in September, yet when it took effect on October 18, he invoked presidential authority to withhold implementation. The move contradicts his public commitment to the legislation just weeks earlier and reflects a fundamental disagreement over how aggressively the United States should respond to Russian actions.

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