Trump faces bipartisan backlash over waiving Russia sanctions

President Trump is defending his decision to waive sanctions, which will refill Russia’s pocketbooks as it attacks Ukraine.

Washington — President Trump is getting bipartisan blowback over his surprise decision to waive new sanctions on Russia two days before they were to go into effect.Congress approved the bipartisan legislation — championed by the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died before it was passed — and it was signed into law by Mr. Trump on Sept. 18. It also comes as a blow to Graham's legacy, given that the senator, a close friend of Mr. Trump, pushed the legislation as one of his final acts. But Mr. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Ukraine, and on Monday criticized Ukraine, even as Russia continues to strike civilian sites in Ukraine.

"Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine, they haven't been doing much," the president told reporters on the White House South Lawn Monday. He added, "We've given a lot to Ukraine, they've given us nothing." In its most recent strikes, Russia recently hit Ukraine energy and infrastructure, as well as a medical clinic, school, metro station and residential buildings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday. The economic restrictions were intended to penalize top Russian figures and the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas as the U.S. seeks to end Russian President Vladimir Putin's four-year war in Ukraine. But the legislation gives Mr. Trump the authority