Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to waive new sanctions and tariffs aimed at Russia, saying on ABC’s “This Week” that the move is “a carrot to try to end a war” and “not an economic lifeline for Russia.”
What changed
ABC News reported that late Friday Trump signed an executive order waiving new sanctions two days before they were set to take effect. According to ABC, the penalties were required under a bill named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham that Trump signed a month earlier.
Pushback from Kyiv and Capitol Hill
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the waiver “wrong,” adding, “It definitely helps only the Russians,” per ABC News. Sen. Darline Graham—who, according to ABC, succeeded her late brother Lindsey Graham—said she disagreed with Trump: “Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia to end the war and get the gas prices down, because I don’t trust Putin and don’t trust Russia.”
Wright’s case for the waiver
In his interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz, Wright argued the step still pressures Moscow: “The only way Russia gets benefit from this move means they have to export diesel, which means they have to either consume less diesel internally, reduce the war effort, or have an ability to repair their refineries, which they only can get to through a peace agreement with Ukraine, an energy ceasefire, or a step towards peace.”
Diesel deal and price politics
ABC News reported Trump announced a week earlier a deal with Russia to eventually import millions of tons of diesel despite a 2022 law that ABC says explicitly bans U.S. imports of Russian energy. ABC also reported Trump criticized Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s targeting of Russian oil refineries, asserting those strikes are driving up prices.
Per ABC, the diesel deal drew bipartisan backlash from lawmakers as domestic diesel averaged above $6 a gallon. Zelenskyy previously called the deal a “birthday gift” to Putin and said on “This Week” that higher diesel prices are being driven by conflict in the Middle East: “It’s more simple to speak about the prices and connect it with Ukraine, when everybody in the world understands because of the war in Middle East, the prices are rising.”
Administration says pressure remains
Responding to accusations that Trump is capitulating to Vladimir Putin, Wright told ABC the administration is still applying “a lot of pressure.” He said, “There have never been sanctions nearly as strong on Russia today as there is under the Trump administration.” He added, “Four-and-a-half years into this war, a million-and-a-half casualties haven’t brought an end to the war. President Trump isn’t going to just throw up his arms and say, ‘Well, I guess we can never stop it.’”
Prices and public anger
ABC News reported Americans have faced higher gas and diesel prices for months and said prices started increasing after the U.S. went to war with Iran in late February. Wright acknowledged the frustration: “People are upset about high gasoline and diesel prices, and we understand that, which is why we’re working in all different avenues to address that problem.” He added a partisan critique: “In contrast, the Democrats for 15 years have done everything they can to make energy more expensive.”
Source: ABC News interview and reporting.
