#russia
9 entries with this tag
With Diesel Above $6.50 a Gallon After His Own Iran War Helped Spike Fuel Prices, Trump Signed an Executive Order Gutting Key Parts of the Bipartisan Graham Act Sanctions on Russia Days Before They Took Effect — and Cut a Deal With Vladimir Putin for Russia to Supply Diesel to the U.S. and Global Markets, a Move Zelensky Called "Wrong" and a Member of Congress Called a "Surrender to Putin"
In October 2026, with diesel prices spiking above $6.50 a gallon — a crisis driven substantially by the oil-market shock from Trump's own war on Iran — the president reached for relief in the worst possible place: Vladimir Putin. On October 16, Trump signed an executive order waiving key provisions of the Graham Act, the bipartisan Russia sanctions law, days before they were due to take effect, calling off planned duties on Russian goods and penalties on buying Russian oil and gas. The Treasury Department simultaneously issued a general license authorizing Russian diesel sales through April 2027. The arrangement grew out of a deal Trump announced with Putin for Russia to supply diesel to the United States and global markets. The reaction was swift and bipartisan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the move "wrong"; Rep. Don Beyer called it a "surrender to Putin"; and members of Congress from both parties had already warned that easing Russian oil sanctions enables Moscow to expand the revenue streams that fund its war on Ukraine. The administration framed it as fuel-price relief. But the relief came by rewarding the aggressor, undercutting a sanctions law Congress passed with bipartisan support, and funneling hard currency to the Kremlin's war machine — to solve a price crisis that Trump's own foreign policy helped create.
The Trump Administration Convened a Select NATO Working Group in Poland to Discuss the Alliance's Future — and Pointedly Left Out the United Kingdom, France, and the Frontline Baltic States, Three of the Allies Most Committed to Defending Europe and Deterring Russia — Prompting Diplomats to Warn That Washington Is Trying to Split NATO Into "the Good Ones and the Bad Ones"
In early October 2026, the Trump administration organized a Pentagon-led NATO working group — reported as the "Bergen Group" — to meet in Poland and discuss the alliance's future, and it excluded some of NATO's most important members. Invited were Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Left out were the United Kingdom and France — two of Europe's leading military powers and nuclear states — and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the frontline states most exposed to Russia and among the alliance's most active defense contributors relative to their size. Allied diplomats were confused and alarmed, questioning Washington's criteria and warning against carving the alliance into tiers. "If they try splitting NATO into the good ones and the bad ones, it is dangerous for the US," one diplomat said. "But for Europe, this is existential." The exclusion of exactly the countries that do the most to deter Russian aggression — and the elevation of a hand-picked subset in their place — fits a documented pattern in Trump's foreign policy of straining the Western alliances that are America's greatest strategic advantage, in ways that serve Moscow's long-standing goal of a divided NATO.
DOJ Pays Flynn $1.2M of Taxpayer Money for "Malicious Prosecution" — He Pleaded Guilty. Twice.
Trump's DOJ settled Michael Flynn's lawsuit for $1.2M, calling his prosecution a "historic injustice." Flynn pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI about Russian contacts. The Biden DOJ had asked a judge to dismiss Flynn's complaint. Trump's DOJ reversed course and paid him.
Zelensky Oval Office Ambush
A White House meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky devolved into a televised shouting match. Trump and Vance berated Zelensky, blamed him for the Russian invasion, and suspended intelligence and military aid.
DOGE Breached Treasury, SSA, and NLRB Data Systems
DOGE operatives gained access to Treasury payment systems, Social Security records of 300 million Americans, and labor board case data. A whistleblower reported login attempts from a Russian IP using DOGE credentials.
Mueller Report: 10 Episodes of Obstruction
The Special Counsel documented 10 episodes of potential obstruction of justice by Trump, including ordering White House Counsel to fire Mueller. The report stated it "does not exonerate" the president.
Helsinki: Sided with Putin Over U.S. Intelligence
Standing next to Vladimir Putin, Trump publicly sided with Russia's denial of election interference over the unanimous assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies — days after 12 Russian intelligence officers were indicted for hacking.
Shared Classified Israeli Intelligence with Russian Officials
The day after firing FBI Director Comey, Trump hosted Russian officials in the Oval Office — closed to U.S. press — and revealed highly classified Israeli intelligence about ISIS, compromising sources and methods.
Fired FBI Director Comey to Obstruct Russia Investigation
Trump fired FBI Director James Comey while the FBI was investigating Russian interference and Trump campaign links. He told NBC: "this Russia thing" was on his mind — a textbook admission of obstruction.