Rubio: US sanctions waiver for Russia is a 60-day pause to assess economic impact

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump's decision to waive sweeping sanctions and tariffs on Russia amounts to a 60-day pause to "analyse" their impact on the global economy. The decision affects US policy toward Russia while the war in Ukraine continues, and it has provoked a sharp reaction in Congress, which passed the underlying legislation by a wide margin.

What Rubio said

Rubio said the president wants to use the period to work out what imposing sanctions and tariffs would mean for the global economy and even for the US economy. He noted that the restrictions involve several countries, not just Russia. Citing high energy prices and the war with Iran, he said the administration needs time to study the matter and determine the right combination.

Rubio also said nobody at the White House had ordered a slowdown of Ukraine's Starlink access to stop it being used on drones flying faster than 100mph. He was referring to Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet network.

Criticism in Congress

Trump's abrupt move to waive the sanctions days before they were due to take effect drew outrage from members of Congress on Saturday. Republican Senator Rick Scott said Russia was clearly the aggressor and that the US must do everything it can to put economic pressure on it. Fellow Republican Thom Tillis called the decision "beyond irresponsible" on social media, describing it as capitulation to "a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine".

Zelenskyy and talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday he expects the Trump administration to lift more sanctions on Russia in future, and he urged Europe to open its own negotiations with Moscow. He called the "diesel deal" the first step and said he believes it cannot stop Putin. Zelenskyy said Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met US presidential envoy Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, on Friday. According to Zelenskyy, Washington is working to arrange a three-way meeting of himself, Trump and Putin, possibly in the Middle East, Europe or the US.

Drones and incidents

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences destroyed 195 Ukrainian drones heading for the capital on Saturday. Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports had suspended flights. Romania said it shot down two Russian drones over the Black Sea; in recent days, drones have attacked ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.