DOMINANT ANGLE
Paris sees the suspension of the Graham law as a new step in the rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, leaving Kiev feeling "betrayed" at a time when Europe is being asked for 70 billion.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The decree published on Friday, October 16, suspends the sanctions and customs duties of the Graham Act, which provided for up to 100% on the first five buyers of Russian oil and gas (BFMTV, Sud Ouest).
- 02
Kirill Dmitriev welcomes a "truly historic" decision, while Zelensky denounces a "sanctions blackout" that encourages Putin to continue his attacks (RFI, HuffPost).
- 03
Republicans like Thom Tillis criticize the measure, deemed "completely irresponsible" (Le Monde).
ANALYSIS
Paris, October 18, 2026. For the French press, the decree published on Friday, October 16, in the evening by the White House is first and foremost a gesture of rapprochement with Moscow. Donald Trump writes: "I exempt the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and customs duties provided for in the Graham Act," citing "the national interest of the United States." BFMTV and HuffPost speak of a "new slap in the face" for Ukraine, which Le Monde recalls is the first major action by Congress against Moscow since the return of the American president.
The text, promulgated in mid-September, was due to come into effect this weekend. It authorized customs duties of up to 100% on the five main buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, and targeted the ghost fleet for the first time, according to BFMTV, Sud Ouest, and L'Express. According to L'Express, the suspension will last as long as the president or high officials do not consider that "additional action is appropriate."
La Tribune proposes an electoral reading: a few weeks before the midterm elections, with diesel fuel above $6 per gallon in some states, the White House hopes that an influx of Russian fuel will cause prices to drop. RFI recalls the agreement on Russian diesel, which provides for nearly two million tons to be supplied in the first phase.
On the Russian side, Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin advisor, hailed a "truly important and historic moment." On the Ukrainian side, Volodymyr Zelensky speaks of a "blackout of sanctions": "all this only encourages them to continue attacking," he declared on Saturday, October 17. He emphasized that the decision came on the day of one of the largest attacks on the energy network, with 332 drones and several missiles during the night, according to the Ukrainian air force cited by Le Monde.
Le Monde also notes that Republicans are criticizing the decision, such as Senator Thom Tillis, who considers it "completely irresponsible." Libération points out that the law was named after the late "anti-Russian" Senator Lindsey Graham. At the Brussels summit, Zelensky asked Europeans for an additional 70 billion euros, with the European Council instructing the Commission to prepare proposals, while Robert Fico ruled out Slovakia's participation.
SOURCES (5)
- L'ExpressMEDIUM
- BFMTVMEDIUM
- La TribuneMEDIUM
