Trump administration lifts Russia sanctions to lower US energy prices

The Trump administration has lifted sanctions on Russian diesel and exempted Russia from a law that Congress passed last month. The White House said the changes would help lower fuel prices for American voters before the midterm elections. An executive order made the decision official on Friday evening.

The move drew criticism from Ukrainian officials and some of Trump's own Republican allies. Economists said they doubted the policy would actually reduce prices at the pump for ordinary Americans.

The sanctions relief is expected to send billions of dollars into the Russian economy. Congress had passed the original sanctions law just weeks earlier, but the administration chose to act against its wishes.