The companies in question, aluminium giant US Rusal, En+ Group, and JSC EuroSibEnergo were partly owned by Oleg Deripaska, an ally to Russian President Putin. Deripaska has also been linked to Russian interference in US elections.

Trump previously attempted to obstruct sanctions on Russia that had been passed with bipartisan support in Congress.

BBC News – US lifts sanctions on Putin ally’s firms
The Guardian – Trump lifts sanctions on firms linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska