President Trump waived new sanctions against Russia two days before they were due to take effect, prompting criticism from Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Congress approved the bipartisan Lindsey Graham Act, championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Trump signed it into law on Sept. 18. The law allows the president to waive parts of its restrictions if he certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest. Trump said he wanted to avoid driving Russia away from negotiations to end the war in Ukraine; the executive order did not explain the decision. The waiver followed an easing of sanctions on Russia's energy sector and an announced deal to import 300,000 tons of Russian diesel. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Blumenthal said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported degraded Starlink services, disruptions to U.S. intelligence sharing on Russian missile launches and delays in air-defense interceptors. Lawmakers have called for an investigation into possible Defense Department involvement in the communications restrictions.