Hello my friends! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. Kal petrol pump par ruka to qeemat ka board dekh kar haath ruk gaya — tel ki qeematon ka poori duniya mein kya haal hai! Aur khabar ye hai ke Trump ne Russia par lagne wali pabandiyon ka apna hi qanoon rok diya hai. Dekhiye, mein Americi siasat ka mahir nahi — bas aik aam Pakistani hoon jise sirf ye fikar hai ke tel sasta ho taake rickshaw wala bhi sakoon se rozi kama sake. To aaiye, is poori kahani ko aasaan lafzon mein samajhte hain.
On Friday, the White House shared an executive order from Trump. In this order, Trump said he is waiving many sanctions and tariffs linked to Russia. A waiver means he is putting the rules on hold for now. These rules were going to start in just a few days under a new law. But now, they will not start.
What the Trump Russia Sanctions Law Was About
To understand this story, we need to go back one month. In the middle of September, Trump signed a new law. The law is called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who was the main supporter of the bill in Congress.
The goal of the law was simple. It wanted to put more pressure on Russia because of its war in Ukraine, which started in 2022. The law said that America could put tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods coming from countries that buy Russian oil and gas. A tariff is a special tax on goods that come from other countries.
The law focused on the five biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas. Countries like India and China buy a lot of oil from Russia, and they were worried about this law. The law also targeted countries that help Russia avoid sanctions.
But here is the interesting part. The same law gave the president the power to waive the rules. To do this, the president must tell Congress in writing that the waiver is in the national interest of America. Trump did exactly that on Friday. He wrote that the waiver is in the national interest of the United States.
Trump Russia Sanctions: Why Did He Stop His Own Law?
Now you may ask a fair question. Why would Trump sign a law and then stop it? News reports point to a few reasons.
First, oil prices. The new sanctions could have pushed oil prices higher around the world. Many Americans are already worried about high prices. Some reports say the high costs are partly linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Higher oil prices would make life harder for common people. In Pakistan too, when world oil prices rise, petrol becomes costly. We explained here how petrol prices touch your daily life: petrol prices article.
Second, elections. America will hold midterm elections on November 3. Trump’s party wants to keep control of Congress. High oil prices just before an election are bad news for any party in power. So the timing of this decision is very important.
Third, Trump has been getting closer to Russia in recent weeks. He has also been openly criticizing Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump even suggested that Ukraine may need a new leader. This shows a big change in America’s position.
There is one more twist. News reports say Trump recently agreed to buy Russian diesel fuel after a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This surprised many people in Washington. At the same time, the White House asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil sites, because those attacks also push oil prices up. Ukraine agreed for a short time but then restarted the attacks.
What Zelensky and Others Said About the Move
Not everyone is happy with Trump’s decision. Zelensky spoke out strongly on Saturday. He said Russia had just carried out one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. At such a painful time, he said, America decided to ignore a law that could have put real pressure on Russia.
Zelensky said the law could have helped bring the war to an end, but only if it actually works. He also shared something hopeful. Teams from America and Ukraine talked on Friday, and the two presidents could meet next week. The details are still being worked out.
In America, the decision faced criticism from both political sides. One Republican lawmaker, Don Bacon, said the move only encourages Russia to keep attacking. He said the president is prolonging the war, not ending it.
European allies of America are also worried. They fear that cracks are appearing in Washington’s support for Ukraine in its four-year war.
The White House, on the other hand, says the waiver is in America’s national interest. The order says the waiver will stay in place until Trump or his top team decides that further action is needed.
At Pak Unfiltered, we always try to show you both sides of a story, so you can make up your own mind.
Why This Story Matters for Pakistan and the World
You may wonder why this news matters for us in Pakistan. The answer is oil. When oil prices go up in the world, petrol prices go up in Pakistan too. Millions of people feel the pain at the petrol pump and in the market, because costly transport makes food and goods more costly for everyone.
India and China are also watching this story very closely. Both countries buy large amounts of Russian oil. If America had put 100 percent tariffs on their goods, it would have hurt their economies and shaken world trade. For now, that danger has passed.
The story also shows how fast world politics can change. A law that was signed with big promises last month is now on hold. For countries like Pakistan, which want peace and stable prices, these big-power decisions matter a lot. Pakistan has always supported talks over war, as our leaders repeated again this week: FO briefing article.
What Happens Next?
The waiver will remain in place until Trump or his officials decide otherwise. All eyes are now on the possible meeting between Trump and Zelensky next week. If they meet, Ukraine will surely ask America to restart the pressure on Russia.
The midterm elections on November 3 will also shape what happens next. After the elections, Trump may feel free to take a tougher line, or he may continue his softer approach toward Moscow. Nobody knows for sure yet.
One thing is clear. The war in Ukraine is now in its fourth year, and decisions made in Washington affect the whole world, from Kyiv to Karachi.
Take care, my dear readers. If you have any questions about this story, please ask in the comments or visit our Contact Us page at https://pakunfiltered.com/contact-us/. I would love to hear your thoughts. Take care!
