Trump puts new Russia sanctions law on hold days before its shadow fleet and tariff measures were due

President Donald Trump has suspended a broad package of Russia sanctions he signed into law last month, issuing an executive order on Friday two days before the measures were due to take effect, Al Jazeera reports. The law, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, targets Russian officials, banks and shadow fleet tankers, and provides for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the biggest buyers of Russian oil or gas. Trump told Congress the pause was in the national interest, Al Jazeera says, and called the waiver indefinite, according to the Associated Press. Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev described it as "an important and truly historic moment", while senators from both parties condemned the decision, AP says.

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