Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Donald Trump’s decision to roll back sanctions on Russia will intensify the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. The warning arrived as Moscow launched one of its most devastating assaults yet on Ukraine’s power plants, aiming to plunge cities into darkness ahead of the winter months.
The Ukrainian president stated that he anticipates the Trump administration will lift additional restrictions against Russia in the future. He also urged European nations to establish independent negotiations with Moscow, noting that the United States has increasingly pursued better ties and business agreements with the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy pointed to a recent fuel agreement as an initial step, expressing concern that Putin feels rewarded and supported by these policy shifts. In social media statements, he characterized the White House's actions as financial incentives that only encourage the Russian leader to persist with military aggression.
Friday marked the Trump administration's announcement that it would suspend a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, with the president informing Congress that the pause served the national interest. The legislation, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would have introduced harsh measures including a 100% tariff on major importers of Russian oil, alongside restrictions on the energy sector, financial institutions, and the Russian shadow tanker fleet.
Zelenskyy criticized the decision to waive these measures while Russia executed massive strikes against critical Ukrainian infrastructure. He urged supporters of the legislation in the US to resurrect the bill, emphasizing that it could still provide effective pressure to help end the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the suspension of the Graham Act, calling it a historic moment. The legislation was originally scheduled to take effect within days, targeting officials, banks, and the vessels transporting Russian energy supplies.
The sanctions waiver follows a recent announcement that the US agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to lower global energy prices, reversing years of Western pressure on the Kremlin. Trump stated that Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tonnes of diesel in phases over the coming weeks.
The diplomatic friction coincides with strained relations between Trump and Zelenskyy. Recent reports indicated that the US withheld intelligence regarding impending ballistic missile attacks and restricted aspects of the Starlink satellite network used by Ukrainian forces for frontline drone operations.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that the US president would ultimately compel Putin to halt the violence and infrastructure strikes, while cautioning that peace cannot be achieved by restricting Ukraine's ability to defend itself or by easing sanctions.
Following a brief halt to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Trump's declared energy ceasefire, Kyiv resumed the attacks after Moscow intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian power facilities. Zelenskyy reported that recent Russian barrages hit over 15 critical generation and transmission sites, resulting in severe consequences compounded by dwindling anti-air defense supplies.