President Donald ​Trump waived key Russia-related US sanctions and tariffs days before they were to take effect under a law he ‌signed last month, including duties on the country's goods and penalties for buying its oil and gas.

In an executive order released by the White House on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the national interests of the United States.

The law is meant to increase pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine that ​began in 2022. Trump, however, has been warming toward Moscow while publicly criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including suggesting Kyiv ​needs a new leader, reported Reuters.

Weeks before US midterm elections in which Trump's Republicans are battling to maintain their ⁠narrow grip on both chambers of Congress, the new measures could have risked further raising oil prices as Americans face increased costs largely attributed ​to the US-Israeli war on Iran, analysts have said.

The waiver comes as Trump increasingly feuds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and cracks appear in Washington’s support for Kyiv in its four-year-old war against its invading neighbour, deepening alarm among European allies, reported CNN.

The White House has heaped pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, as it seeks to ease oil prices ahead of midterm elections at home. 

Ukraine briefly acceded to the request, but has since resumed attacks – and Russia has continued to pound Ukraine’s energy infrastructure throughout the week.

The forestalled legislation would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on – among other things – goods brought into the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, the sale of which is crucial to funding the Kremlin’s war machine.

“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump said in the order released by the White House on Friday.

The order did not specify why the decision served the national interest, and said the waiver will remain in effect until the Trump administration determines that “further action is appropriate.”

The measures were included in the Graham Act, legislation named after former Senator Lindsey Graham, a noted Russia hawk who died in July, state the CNN report.

Countries such as China and India, which are among the biggest buyers of Russian oil, have raised concerns about the Russia sanctions bill.

Beijing has said it "consistently opposed long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law" while India warned Washington that new tariffs could impact bilateral ties.

On the waiver, US Representative Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, blasted Trump, saying he was giving in to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Trump's latest surrender to Putin again betrays our ​Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war ​of aggression," stated Beyer.

Trump had also faced criticism from several US senators, including some Republicans, over a recent diesel deal with Russia in which Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian exports and Russia agreed to supply diesel to global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices. ⁠The lawmakers ​who criticized the deal said it would help fund Russia's war efforts.

Meanwhile, Putin's investment envoy, ​Kirill Dmitriev called Trump's waiver "a truly historic moment," posting on X that the legislation could have effectively brought all economic cooperation between Russia and the US to a halt.