ترامب يوقف عقوبات مشتري النفط والغاز الروسيين ويصف من يطالبون بها بأنهم «أغبياء»
suspending sanctions against major buyers of Russian oil and gas, citing US national interests and efforts to secure the release of American Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard was released on 21 October during Steve Witkoff’s visit to Saint Petersburg, and Trump said no prisoner exchange took place. The decision drew sharp criticism from US lawmakers from both parties.
أبرز النقاط
- On 16 October, Trump paused sanctions against major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
- He dismissed those calling for additional sanctions against Russia as “stupid people”.
- Trump said Moscow merely laughs at such restrictions and linked the pause to the effort to free Stephen Hubbard.
- Hubbard was released on 21 October during Steve Witkoff’s visit to Saint Petersburg.
- Trump signed H.R. 5334 in September and set a 30-day implementation deadline ending on 18 October.
- The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and vessels, and includes 500% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary tariffs of up to 100%.
- On 17 October, Trump signed an order cancelling some sanctions, restrictions and tariffs provided for under the law.
لماذا يهمّ ذلك
The suspension weakens sanctions intended to increase the costs for major buyers of Russian energy and restrict other channels supporting Russia’s war economy. It also exposed sharp divisions among US lawmakers from both parties and showed how the release of an American hostage was linked to a broader debate over the administration’s Russia policy.
ماذا حدث
On 16 October, Trump paused the implementation of sanctions against the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas under the Graham law. He justified the decision by US national interests and said he did not want to pressure Moscow and ask Vladimir Putin to release Stephen Hubbard at the same time. Trump also called critics of additional sanctions “stupid people” and said Moscow only laughs at such restrictions. On 17 October, he signed an order cancelling some of the sanctions, restrictions and tariffs established under the law. Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher from Michigan, was released on 21 October during special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Saint Petersburg. Trump said he had requested Hubbard’s release and denied that a prisoner exchange occurred; the Kremlin cited humanitarian considerations. The decision was sharply criticised by US lawmakers from both parties.
كيف تصفه المصادر الأوكرانية
Ukrainian media foregrounded Trump’s criticism of sanctions advocates and the consequences of his decision for Ukraine. The coverage placed it within the dispute over the diesel-fuel licence, the full implementation of the Graham law, and allegations by US lawmakers that the arrangement amounted to a betrayal of the Ukrainian people.
أين تختلف الروايات
The sources differ on the timing and sequence of congressional approval of H.R. 5334 and the president’s signature. The synthesis records the law as signed on 18 September, with a 30-day implementation period ending on 18 October, while one account states that Congress finally approved it on 17 September.
الخلفية
H.R. 5334 expanded sanctions on Russian officials, banks and vessels involved in circumventing restrictions on Russian energy trade. It also prohibited new US investments in Russia and purchases of Russian sovereign debt, and established tariffs on Russian goods and secondary tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. On 9 October, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License No. 135, allowing transactions involving Russian diesel fuel. Stephen Hubbard was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2022. A Russian court convicted him of allegedly fighting for Ukraine as a mercenary, while the United States declared him unlawfully detained.