US pauses Russia sanctions for 60 days, cites India's energy needs

The United States will take a 60-day pause to assess the economic consequences of imposing fresh sanctions on Russia and punitive tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, including India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, citing mounting pressure on global oil supplies and the potential impact on the American economy.

The announcement follows President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to waive key provisions of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, commonly known as the Graham Act, which authorised sanctions against Moscow and tariffs on countries continuing to import Russian oil and gas.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday before departing for a six-day visit to Uzbekistan and India, Rubio said the administration needed time to evaluate the wider implications of implementing both sanctions and tariffs amid multiple geopolitical conflicts.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱

Rubio acknowledged that India had voluntarily diversified its energy portfolio but continued to depend substantially on Russian supplies, making an immediate transition difficult.

He described India as an important ally and partner of the United States and said Washington must consider its energy requirements before determining the appropriate combination of economic restrictions.

The proposed measures under the Graham Act could have exposed major buyers of Russian oil, including India and China, to punitive tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods exported to the United States.

The temporary waiver offers India relief from the immediate implementation of these provisions, although Washington has not ruled out imposing restrictions following its review.

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻

Rubio pointed to disruptions arising from the Iran conflict, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure and the continuing Russia-Ukraine war as factors complicating the sanctions decision.

The overlapping crises have increased uncertainty in global energy markets, with supply disruptions contributing to higher fuel prices and concerns over economic stability.

The Secretary of State indicated that imposing restrictions on Russian energy exports while simultaneously penalising countries dependent on those supplies could create additional pressure on international markets.

He said the administration would use the review period to assess the consequences for both the global economy and the United States before deciding its next course of action.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Trump, speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, said a final decision on the sanctions had not yet been announced and defended the waiver as being in America's interests.

The executive order does not establish an automatic expiry after 60 days. Instead, the waivers will remain effective until the President or Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant economic officials, determines that further action is necessary.

The decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both major US political parties, who argue that relaxing pressure on Moscow could weaken efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

Rubio also defended a separate agreement with Russia to increase diesel supplies to international markets, including shipments to the United States, as Washington seeks to contain rising fuel costs.

Under the arrangement, Russia is expected to initially supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to the US, with additional shipments planned in November and beyond.

Rubio maintained that Russian diesel would continue reaching international buyers regardless of whether the United States participated in the arrangement.

The sanctions review comes ahead of Rubio's visit to India, where energy security and bilateral economic relations are expected to feature prominently in discussions.

For New Delhi, the waiver provides temporary relief from the threat of additional American tariffs while leaving the longer-term future of its Russian energy imports dependent on Washington's subsequent policy decisions.