{"text":[[{"start":8.3,"text":"Donald Trump has decided not to impose new sanctions on Russia that were mandated by a sweeping law passed by Congress last month. "}],[{"start":15.65,"text":"In an executive order issued late on Friday night, Trump invoked a waiver in the law that gives him broad authority not to impose new economic penalties on Moscow over its war in Ukraine if he believes it to be in the national interest. "}],[{"start":29.9,"text":"“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” it stated. "}],[{"start":37.449999999999996,"text":"The executive order did not explain why Trump opted not to enact the legislation he signed. The decision comes as the administration has lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in a bid to tame energy prices ahead of the midterm elections next month, and comes amid deteriorating relations with Ukraine. "}],[{"start":54.05,"text":"The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which was signed into law by Trump last month, mandates sanctions on Russia’s defence and energy sectors as well as its shadow fleet of ageing oil tankers, which have been used to evade existing restrictions. "}],[{"start":69.75,"text":"The bill was championed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyiv’s supporters on Capitol Hill, who hoped it could increase pressure on the Russian economy and push Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. "}],[{"start":83.2,"text":"It also gave the president extensive powers to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. The provision divided Democrats, who feared that Trump could use the expanded tariff powers to penalise allies. "}],[{"start":100.45,"text":"The legislation — named after the late senator Lindsey Graham, a champion of the bill and staunch supporter of Ukraine — gave the administration 30 days until this Sunday to enforce new economic penalties on Russia or to notify Congress that it was opting to invoke the waiver. "}],[{"start":116.80000000000001,"text":"“By waiving these sanctions, Trump is thumbing his nose at Congress’s direction that he ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin and enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression,” said Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate banking committee."}],[{"start":131.9,"text":"The decision not to impose sanctions on Russia comes as the relationship between Washington and Kyiv is once again in turmoil. "}],[{"start":139.70000000000002,"text":"Trump has leaned heavily on Zelenskyy to stop striking Russian oil refineries, while Russia has continued to bombard civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine, killing more than 100 civilians over the past week. "}],[{"start":154.00000000000003,"text":"Kyiv has been left blindsided by unexplained lapses in intelligence from its foreign partners about incoming missile strikes, along with restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet systems used by Ukraine’s drone units. "}],[{"start":168.35000000000002,"text":"Trump has denied that the US has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. "}],[{"start":172.55,"text":"In talks in Miami last week, US officials threatened to cut off vital intelligence sharing if Ukraine did not stop its attacks on Russian refineries."}],[{"start":181.10000000000002,"text":"In an interview with the FT this week, Zelenskyy was defiant and pledged to resume his attacks on Russian oil refineries in light of Moscow’s continued bombardment of Ukraine. "}],[{"start":192.55,"text":"He also lambasted Washington’s eagerness to strike business deals with Moscow and Trump’s apparent admiration for Putin."}],[{"start":207.4,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1792226427_7642.mp3"}