US President Trump suspends sanctions on Russia for 60 days

US President Donald Trump has decided to suspend new sanctions and tariffs on Russia for 60 days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that this step was taken to evaluate the potential effects on the global economy and the US economy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the sanctions would affect not only Russia but also countries like India that are dependent on Russian energy resources. Rubio pointed out that while India is trying to diversify its energy sources, it faces difficulties in changing supply sources in the short term. The decision came at a time when debates over the cost of living are intensifying ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in the US.

It was stated that factors such as developments originating from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on energy infrastructure are behind the rise in energy prices. On the other hand, it was noted that the suspension of sanctions followed an alleged agreement between Trump and Putin regarding the export of Russian diesel.

The decision received criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress. Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Cruz reacted sharply to the decision. Ted Cruz argued that instead of easing sanctions to lower energy prices, the problems originating from Iran should be resolved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the decision rewards Putin.

Rubio also addressed the Starlink connection issues in Ukraine, clarifying that the US administration did not issue an order to reduce connection speeds. It was stated that Ukraine had requested Starshield access for attacks on targets in Russia, but it does not have access to this system.