US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Saturday that the Trump administration has initiated a 60-day waiver on sweeping sanctions and tariffs previously imposed on Russia. According to Rubio, this pause is intended to allow the administration to analyze the broader economic consequences of these measures, specifically noting their impact on the global economy and the United States. Rubio emphasized that the economic restrictions in question affect multiple nations, not solely Russia.

Rubio further contextualized the decision by pointing to broader geopolitical instability, citing the ongoing US conflict with Iran and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as factors currently influencing global energy prices. While the administration frames the pause as a technical assessment period, the move has faced immediate pushback. France24 reports that the decision has drawn bipartisan criticism within the United States and has sparked anxiety in Ukraine, where officials fear the pause may signal a broader shift toward easing long-term restrictions on Moscow. The two outlets differ in their focus: Middle East Eye highlights Rubio’s justification regarding global energy conflicts, whereas France24 emphasizes the political fallout and the specific diplomatic concerns raised by the Ukrainian government.