Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies

Donald Trump has blocked numerous sanctions on Russia two days before they were due to take effect, as a row with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky deepens. But the US president issued an executive order on Friday night saying that suspending some was in the US "national interest", prompting a backlash from US lawmakers.

The sanctions were passed by the US Congress and signed into law by Trump in September.