President Donald Trump has put a sweeping package of Russia sanctions on hold just days before it was set to take effect, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties and from Ukraine’s president. The move comes as Washington’s relationship with Kyiv grows increasingly strained and as high fuel prices weigh on voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Here’s a clear look at what happened, why it matters and what could come next.

What Trump did

Late Friday, October 16, Trump issued an executive order suspending sanctions that Congress had passed and that he signed into law in September. Most of the law’s provisions were due to take effect on Sunday, October 18.

According to the Associated Press, Trump said he was waiving the sanctions indefinitely, citing national security concerns. The BBC reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the suspension as a 60-day pause to let the administration analyze the potential impact on the U.S. and global economy. The order said suspending some of the measures was in the U.S. national interest.

What the sanctions law does

The measure is known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act, named for the late South Carolina senator who championed it before his death this summer. The Senate passed it 86-11, an unusually lopsided bipartisan vote.

The BBC reports that the law gives the president broad power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, most significantly China and India. It also includes sanctions targeting senior Russian figures, including President Vladimir Putin, Russian financial institutions and the so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers Moscow uses to get around existing embargoes.

The backlash in Congress

Criticism came quickly from both sides of the aisle. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the decision “beyond irresponsible.” The AP reports that Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said “Lindsey would be appalled,” and the BBC reports that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called the waiver a mistake.

Democrats were equally pointed. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that “by giving the Russian economy life support, Trump’s deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier.” Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced legislation on Friday to block a recent U.S. deal to import Russian diesel.

Ukraine’s response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the sanctions “could have helped enormously,” according to the BBC, and that the law was meant to put real pressure on Russia to end the war. He pointed to overnight Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities that caused power outages in several regions, warning that Russia is trying to cause a blackout “right before winter.”

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, meanwhile, praised the order, calling it “an important and truly historic moment,” the BBC reported.

The bigger picture: fuel prices and a diesel deal

The decision follows Trump’s recent announcement of a deal to import Russian diesel, part of an effort to bring down U.S. fuel prices that have climbed during the war with Iran. Rising costs have become a major political issue heading into the midterms. Critics, including Tillis, argued that resolving the Iran conflict would do more to lower prices than easing pressure on Moscow.

The BBC also reports broader friction between Washington and Kyiv, including disputes over military support and recent disruptions to Starlink service used by Ukraine. Trump has denied deliberately slowing the network.

What happens next

In the short term, probably not much. The House and Senate are on recess until after Election Day, and the AP reports it’s unlikely Congress will be in a position to challenge the order before lawmakers return to Washington. Some members have vowed to act once they’re back, and Meeks’ bill targeting the diesel deal is already on the table.

The politics are personal for some lawmakers. Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, who was appointed to fill his Senate seat and is now running in a tight race, said she would personally “choose to keep the pressure on Russia,” while noting that how to use the law is up to the president.

The wrap-up

A sanctions package designed to squeeze Russia’s oil revenue has been paused before it ever took effect. Whether the pause lasts 60 days or longer, and whether Congress can push back, will likely depend on what happens after the November 3 elections. For now, the decision has deepened tensions with Ukraine and united an unusual coalition of critics on Capitol Hill.

Image: U.S. Capitol Building Dome, Washington by Carol M Highsmith via Rawpixel, CC0 1.0