Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump orders last-minute stay on Russian sanctions and refuses to blame Putin for war

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US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the "national interest".

Trump personally approved the legislation just last month, and his move to block it came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. Named after late South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, it had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fuelling the war against Ukraine .

Trump's unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the US had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The US president also refused to say Russia's president Vladimir Putin was responsible for starting the war. When asked by reporters whether he had forgotten that it was Putin who invaded Russia's European neighbour, he suggested it was not that straightforward.

He said: “I know the details, OK, and at some point I’ll release the details. But I don’t care about anything except for one. I want that war ended.”

Defence secretary Wes Streeting announced that UK forces will take part in a “major exercise” while making his first visit to the US in the role.

Britain’s troops will join those from France and Germany in a drill which is aimed at ensuring Nato forces are ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once the war is over.

Democratic Virginia representative Don Beyer noted on social media shortly after the announcement of the sanctions being suspended that he and others had “warned" Trump might make such a move.

The veteran congressman, who spoke out against the bill as it was debated, called on Congress to “fix this flawed law to stop Donald Trump from capitulating to Vladimir Putin and ensure that it truly supports Ukraine”.

The White House did not immediately explain how pausing the sanctions was in the national interest.

The decision was posted on the White House website late in the evening, and the notification noted that the report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress.

Lindsey Graham, a close ally and friend of the president, had just returned from Ukraine when he unexpectedly died in July. He had advocated for stricter US sanctions against Russia as a way of pressuring it to end its war in Ukraine.

His colleagues in Congress responded with bipartisan support after his death and president Donald Trump attached his signature to the legislation — then changed his mind on Friday.