- Pres Trump signed exec order Fri waiving new sanctions, tariffs on Russia
- second time in two weeks Trump waived sanctions on Russia
- waived sanctions on foreign banks that do business with Russian banks
- waived bans on purchase of Russian government bonds
- waived sanctions against U.S. investment in Russia
- and allows U.S. banks processing transfers to Russian government
(OSTB: I believe this means Russia is back into the SWIFT payments system for US Dollar settlements).
- White House published executive order dated 16 October 2026
- What does this mean?
- Russia gets economic relief
- removes restrictions on Russian defence, energy revenues
- Countries can buy Russian oil
- no tariffs on purchasers of Russian oil and gas
- Bottom line: Trump waived broad package of sanctions and tariffs
OSTB: US media is saying that not all US sanctions against Russia have been suspended. Well Russia may still not be able to import American airplanes and motor vehicles but who cares.
This also means that the freeze on Russian assets held in the West are over.
It also places a dead stop to the efforts by the EU to liquidate seized Russian assets and use the money to pay themselves for supplying weapons to Ukraine.
But there are other much more significant issues at stake. NATO is effectively dead. If the founder and most important member of NATO has done a 180 degree U-turn against hostility towards Russia it means the rest of NATO can continue fighting Russia on their own.
It also places the EU governments in a really silly position. EU oil traders, EU banks and EU investors would have already started trading and investment activities with Russia. The Russian stock markets have been booming the past few days - undoubtedly caused by inflows of funds from Europe as well as the United States. The EU countries are now neck deep in a huge pool of hypocrisy - something with which they are terribly familiar.
Alice Weidell leader of the AfD presently the most popular party in Germany and most likely the next German Chancellor has said it plainly that when the AfD comes to power Germany will resume all trade and relations with Russia.
In France Marine Le Pen who is far ahead of all other candidates to be the next president of France has also expressed common sense views towards Russia.
Le Pen has advocated withdrawing France from NATO's integrated military command.
She wants to end French financial aid to Ukraine.
She opposes Ukraine joining the EU.
Which means she certainly opposes Ukraine joining NATO
The US has already stopped supplying Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Claiming that the US needs to maintain their own stocks of Patriots (for Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel).
All this will have a huge effect on the war in Ukraine. One of the main hurdles preventing a peace deal - that Ukraine be allowed to join NATO - has become quite nonsensical. What if the United States pulls out of NATO? Which is what Mr Trump has actually done. He does not care about NATO. America First.
So far Mr Trump has faced THREE assassination attempts in three years.
1. 13 July 2024 — Butler, Pennsylvania: A gunman shot Trump in the ear during a campaign rally. One attendee was killed and two others were injured.
2. 15 September 2024 — West Palm Beach, Florida: A Secret Service agent spotted an armed suspect near Trump’s golf course before Trump was harmed. The incident was investigated as an assassination attempt.
3. 25 April 2026 — Washington, D.C.: An armed man attempted to enter the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where Trump was present. Shots were fired, and Trump was evacuated unharmed. Authorities arrested the suspect.
Many very rich and powerful people will be very pissed off with Mr Trump's decisions. I think Ms Weidell and Ms Le Pen should also take extra precautions for their safety.
