Republicans criticize Trump over Russia sanctions waiver and summit plan

Several Republican lawmakers are expressing opposition to President Donald Trump’s recent policy shifts regarding Russia. The backlash follows an executive order by Trump to waive tough new sanctions against Russia that Congress had approved last month. The White House defended the move, stating that enforcing the sanctions would “impede ongoing US efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.”

Internal party friction has also emerged regarding Trump’s proposal for a potential trilateral summit involving Russia, China, and the United States to resolve the war in Ukraine. Critics, including Senator Bill Cassidy, have labeled the plan “nonsense” and “morally wrong” because it does not include Ukraine at the negotiating table.

Other Republican figures, such as Senator Katie Britt and Representative Ashley Hinson, have called for continued economic pressure on Moscow. Senator Britt argued that the U.S. should use “economic firepower” to bring President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, while Hinson expressed reservations about making further deals with Russia.