Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised United States President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions against Russia, warning that reducing economic pressure on Moscow while its forces continue attacking Ukraine could prolong the war.
Zelensky expressed concern on Saturday that the latest move by Washington could mark the beginning of further concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly as Russian troops intensify attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
The dispute followed Trump’s signing of an executive order suspending certain sanctions targeting Russia’s energy revenues. The decision reportedly came after an understanding with Putin over the resumption of Russian diesel exports in exchange for sanctions relief.
Speaking to reporters, Zelensky said he feared the arrangement would be followed by additional measures easing restrictions on Moscow. He argued that such a policy would undermine efforts to persuade Russia to end its invasion, which began in February 2022.
The Ukrainian leader maintained that peace could not be secured by restricting his country’s ability to respond to Russian attacks while simultaneously reducing economic pressure on the Kremlin.
His criticism came amid reports of fresh Russian air strikes that killed at least two people on Saturday. One person died in Kherson, where 22 others, including two children, were injured, while another fatality was reported in Sumy.
Zelensky also said Russian forces had attacked 15 critical power-generation facilities on the same day Washington announced the sanctions relief. He accused Moscow of seeking to deprive millions of Ukrainians of electricity and heating as winter approaches, urging Ukraine’s international partners to intensify pressure on Russia.
The Ukrainian president also called attention to proposed US sanctions measures associated with the late Senator Lindsey Graham, which were intended to target Russia’s energy and defence sectors, Putin and the oil tankers allegedly used to evade Western restrictions. Zelensky argued that the measures could still play an important role in compelling Moscow to reconsider its military campaign.
Meanwhile, Russian officials welcomed Washington’s decision. Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy of Putin, described the suspension of the sanctions measures as a significant moment for Russia, arguing that the restrictions could have inflicted considerable damage on the US economy and global markets.
Putin had not publicly commented on Trump’s announcement at the time of the report. However, the Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s territorial ambitions during an appearance before military officials on Friday, expressing satisfaction with the progress of Russian forces and identifying the remaining parts of the Donetsk region as a major military objective.
The sanctions dispute adds to tensions between Washington and Kyiv as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue without a major breakthrough. Zelensky recently urged European Union leaders to maintain financial and military support for Ukraine, particularly as the country faces growing challenges in intercepting Russian missiles and protecting its energy infrastructure.
