‘Stop Letting Putin Play You’: Trump Critics Slam Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver Renewal

Democratic lawmakers argue the policy risks undermining sanctions on Russia. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived for a meeting on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Sergey Bobylev / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Senior Democrats in the US Senate have criticized Washington’s decision to extend a temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions, telling President Donald Trump to “stop letting Putin play him for a fool.” The license, which the US Treasury Department had said days earlier it would not renew, allows countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded onto vessels until May 16.  Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The Trump administration has justified the waiver as a necessary measure to ease surging oil prices and supply concerns driven by the US-Israeli war in Iran.   But lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party argue the policy  risks undermining sanctions  designed to curb Russia’s war on Ukraine.  “This decision is shameful and a 180-degree reversal from [Treasury] Secretary Bessent,” senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren wrote in a joint letter.  They said the initial waiver, which expired on April 11, combined with high global oil prices during the Iran war, provided Russia with roughly $150 million per day — more than $4 billion by the time the exemption expired.  The letter added that “enough is enough” and that “President Trump needs to stop letting Putin play him for a fool and impose additional sanctions on Putin,” warning that Moscow is not facing sufficient economic pressure.  Other Topics of Interest Defense Ministry Advisor Injured After Drone Strike Hits His Home During Overnight Attack A Ukrainian defense official said his house was destroyed in a Russian drone strike as part of a wider overnight assault across the country. ‘Ridiculous’ response  The administration has since rejected those claims, with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz calling it “ridiculous” to suggest the move was “rewarding Russia” in an interview for private television station NBC.  US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) Waltz argued that the waiver applies only to oil already in transit and does not permit new production to enter the market. He also said the policy allows supplies to reach US allies rather than being redirected solely to countries such as China.  He further pointed to what he described as broader strategic gains, including  the weakening of Iran , a key Russian military partner, following recent conflict in the region.  “It’s this administration that put sanctions on Russia’s number one and number two oil providers… unlike the last administration,” he added.  Despite the policy shift, analysts say the overall impact on global oil prices has been limited. Much of Russia’s crude continues to be transported via so-called “shadow fleet” tankers that operate outside formal sanctions frameworks.