RIA reported Sunday that U.S. Energy Secretary Wright said President Trump has
paused Russia-related sanctions but not lifted them. Wright said core sanctions
remain in force and the U.S. continues to impose tighter-than-ever restrictions
on Russian oil, while the president has issued a narrow exception limited to
diesel exports. An earlier executive order deferred sanctions on Russian
officials, banks and entities even as a new law would mandate sanctions on those
targets. Putin and Trump agreed on Oct. 9 on Russian diesel supply to global
markets, and the U.S. Treasury issued a sanctions waiver valid through April 7.
