House Speaker Johnson warns Trump against easing sanctions on Russia
US House Speaker Mike Johnson (photo: Getty Images)
The White House's decision to lift sanctions against Russia has drawn criticism in the US Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned the administration of possible unintended consequences, according to The Hill.
According to the House Speaker, lifting restrictions on Russia will have "unintended consequences."
"Congress voted on this decisively just several weeks ago, and we understand that Putin cannot be trusted," Johnson stressed.
He said he had discussed the situation the previous day with several colleagues who had also expressed concerns. They included lawmakers serving on the intelligence and foreign affairs committees.
Johnson himself had not spoken with Trump at that point. He attributed this to both politicians' busy schedules and travel commitments. However, the Speaker had already conveyed his concerns to the White House team.
"But I told the White House team that we need to talk about it, and I think carefully consider the unintended consequences that may ensue from that," Johnson said.
He added that the president was evaluating the issue as carefully as he did other decisions.
"Look, he has two major objectives, as you know, Larry. Every day he wants to keep America safe, and he wants to bring down the cost of living for every American. He thinks outside the box with creative ideas all the time, and he carefully evaluates those. So I think the right decision will be made here in the end," the politician added.
Johnson expressed hope that the administration would ultimately make the right decision.
Republicans criticize Trump's decision
According to the media outlet, several Republican lawmakers have already criticized Trump's move.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina questioned the administration's willingness to carry out the will of Congress. In a post on X, he recalled that the relevant bill had passed the Senate by a vote of 86 to 11.
"What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand? It's unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day," he stressed.
Another Republican, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, also criticized the president's decision. He wrote on X that Trump is "prolonging the war, not ending it."
In early October, US President Donald Trump's administration reached an agreement with Moscow on diesel fuel supplies. Following this, the US Treasury Department temporarily exempted Russian diesel fuel from sanctions until April 7, 2027.
The decision sparked a strong reaction from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders, and some Republicans in Congress. In Ukraine, the agreement was called unfair.
