# Energy secretary defends Russia sanctions waiver

> Chris Wright says Trump's decision to waive new sanctions on Russia is a negotiating tactic, not economic aid, as critics including Zelenskyy and Senator Graham's sister object.
- Title: Energy secretary defends Russia sanctions waiver · ABC News
- Summary: Chris Wright says Trump's decision to waive new sanctions on Russia is a negotiating tactic, not economic aid, as critics including Zelenskyy and Senator…
- Keywords: chris wright, donald trump, russia, ukraine, sanctions, vladimir putin, volodymyr zelenskyy, darline graham, energy secretary, diesel imports, news, Energy
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/energy-secretary-defends-waiving-new-sanctions-russia-economic/story?id=137359849
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: chris wright, donald trump, russia, ukraine, sanctions, vladimir putin, volodymyr zelenskyy, darline graham, energy secretary, diesel imports, news
## Trump waives Russia sanctions
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving new sanctions on Russia two days before they were set to take effect.The punishments were required under a bill named after late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
## Wright defends the waiver
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on ABC News' This Week that the exemption was not an economic lifeline for Russia. He called it a carrot to try to end the war.

> This is a carrot to try to end a war. It's not an economic lifeline for Russia.
## Graham's sister disagrees
Darline Graham, who replaced her late brother Lindsey Graham in the Senate, said Saturday she disagreed with Trump. She would choose to keep pressure on Russia to end the war.

> 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.
## Zelenskyy calls decision wrong
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump's decision was wrong, adding that it definitely helps only the Russians. He previously called a diesel deal with Russia a birthday gift to Putin.

> It definitely helps only the Russians.
## Wright explains the pressure
Wright told Martha Raddatz that Russia only benefits if it exports diesel, which requires consuming less internally, reducing war effort, or repairing refineries through a peace agreement with Ukraine.

> 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.
## Trump announces diesel deal
Trump's executive order came a week after he announced a deal with Russia to eventually import millions of tons of diesel despite a two thousand twenty-two law banning United States imports of Russian energy.
## Wright cites strong sanctions record
Wright said the Trump administration has imposed sanctions nearly as strong as any on Russia, and that four and a half years into the war with one and a half million casualties, Trump will not…

> There have never been sanctions nearly as strong on Russia today as there, as there is under the Trump administration.
## Key takeaway

Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended President Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia, calling it a negotiating tool while critics argue it undermines pressure to end the war.