{"id":73206,"date":"2026-10-18T16:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T20:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-uk-tensions-rise-as-trump-eases-russia-sanctions-anthropic-pledges-5-stake-to-public-fund\/73206\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T16:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T20:38:12","slug":"us-uk-tensions-rise-as-trump-eases-russia-sanctions-anthropic-pledges-5-stake-to-public-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-uk-tensions-rise-as-trump-eases-russia-sanctions-anthropic-pledges-5-stake-to-public-fund\/73206\/","title":{"rendered":"US-UK Tensions Rise as Trump Eases Russia Sanctions; Anthropic Pledges 5% Stake to Public Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong> has issued an executive order waiving key provisions of the <strong>Graham Act<\/strong>, pausing sweeping sanctions on <strong>Russia<\/strong> for up to <strong>60 days<\/strong> to assess their economic impact.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper<\/strong> signaled a major diplomatic rift, stating Britain takes a &quot;different view&quot; and will continue to increase pressure on <strong>Moscow<\/strong> despite Washington&#39;s policy shift.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong> warned that the US decision to ease energy restrictions and import <strong>Russian diesel<\/strong> effectively pushes Ukraine toward &quot;capitulation.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anthropic (<a href=\"\/stock\/ANTHRO\">ANTHRO<\/a>)<\/strong> announced plans to commit an initial <strong>5% stake<\/strong> (valued at approximately <strong>$48 billion<\/strong>) to a new <strong>Public Benefit Fund<\/strong> ahead of its anticipated November IPO.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Elon Musk<\/strong> publicly challenged Anthropic&#39;s move, recommending that the company distribute shares <strong>directly to the public<\/strong> rather than through an intermediary fund.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Transatlantic Rift Over Russian Sanctions<\/h2>\n<p>A significant diplomatic divide has emerged between London and Washington following <strong>President Donald Trump&#39;s<\/strong> decision to halt a package of sanctions against <strong>Russia<\/strong>. The sanctions, part of the <strong>Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act<\/strong>, were scheduled to take effect this week but were waived by executive order on Friday. <strong>UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper<\/strong> reaffirmed Britain\u2019s commitment to stronger sanctions, emphasizing that &quot;Ukraine&#39;s security is our security&quot; and highlighting a rare public disagreement with the US administration over European security coordination.<\/p>\n<p>The White House defended the pause as a necessary measure to contain fuel costs ahead of the <strong>November 3 midterm elections<\/strong>. <strong>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/strong> stated that the administration requires up to <strong>60 days<\/strong> to analyze how the proposed tariffs and sanctions would impact the global and domestic economies. This review period specifically addresses concerns regarding major US partners like <strong>India<\/strong>, which remains heavily dependent on Russian energy imports despite efforts to diversify.<\/p>\n<h2>Zelenskyy Warns of &quot;Capitulation&quot;<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong> has reacted sharply to the US policy shift, characterizing the easing of energy-related restrictions as a &quot;reward&quot; for <strong>Vladimir Putin<\/strong>. The dispute has been further inflamed by reports that the US has agreed to purchase over <strong>300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel<\/strong> to stabilize domestic energy prices. <em>Analysts suggest that the friction between Kyiv and Washington is at its highest point since the conflict began<\/em>, with concerns rising over the reliability of US intelligence sharing and military support.<\/p>\n<p>The tension extends to private infrastructure, with ongoing disputes regarding access to the <strong>Starlink<\/strong> satellite network. While <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong> denied that the White House ordered a slowdown of the system, Ukrainian commanders have argued that restrictions on the military-grade <strong>Starshield<\/strong> version have hampered their ability to intercept Russian drones. European allies, including <strong>France<\/strong> and <strong>Germany<\/strong>, are reportedly preparing for a geopolitical landscape where the US may no longer lead the sanctions enforcement effort against the Kremlin.<\/p>\n<h2>Anthropic Pledges Billions to Public Fund<\/h2>\n<p>In the technology sector, AI powerhouse <strong>Anthropic (<a href=\"\/stock\/ANTHRO\">ANTHRO<\/a>)<\/strong> has made a landmark commitment to dedicate a portion of its wealth to the public interest. The company plans to allocate an initial <strong>5% stake<\/strong> to the <strong>Anthropic Public Benefit Fund<\/strong>, a wholly owned LLC designed to address societal challenges such as labor market disruptions. Based on the company&#39;s most recent valuation of <strong>$965 billion<\/strong>, this initial pledge is worth roughly <strong>$48 billion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The fund&#39;s stake could eventually grow to <strong>20%<\/strong> of the company&#39;s equity, as the board has the discretion to add <strong>2%<\/strong> for every <strong>50% increase<\/strong> in valuation. <strong>Elon Musk<\/strong>, whose company <strong>SpaceX (<a href=\"\/stock\/SPCX\">SPCX<\/a>)<\/strong> recently signed a compute deal with Anthropic worth up to <strong>$84.5 billion<\/strong>, criticized the structure on social media. Musk argued that the shares should be distributed <strong>directly to the public<\/strong>, bypassing the &quot;middleman&quot; of a board-controlled fund. Anthropic is currently on track to launch its <strong>IPO<\/strong> before the Thanksgiving holiday, with some investors targeting a valuation as high as <strong>$2 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways President Donald Trump has issued an executive order waiving key provisions of the Graham Act, pausing sweeping sanctions 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