Zelenskyy says US sanctions rollback will intensify Russia’s war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Donald Trump’s decision to pause a new sanctions package against Russia would intensify the war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian president also suggested the US administration could lift further restrictions in the future.

His statement followed a Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said more than 15 critical power-generation and transmission facilities were hit, causing severe consequences.

US pauses sanctions package

Trump said on Friday that he was putting the package, which had passed both chambers of Congress, on hold because the pause was in the national interest. The legislation, named after Senator Lindsey Graham, included sanctions on Russian officials, banks, the energy sector and the country’s shadow fleet of tankers.

It also directed tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil, including China and India. The legislation was due to take effect two days after the suspension was announced.

Zelenskyy calls for bill’s revival

Zelenskyy said the rollback amounted to a reward that could encourage Vladimir Putin to launch further attacks. He urged support in the United States for restoring the bill.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the move, calling the suspension an important and historic event.

Energy strikes and diesel supplies

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s dwindling air-defence stocks were making it harder to intercept loitering munitions, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. He said the scale and relentless pace of Russia’s nightly attacks on energy facilities were producing severe consequences.

The US decision came a week after Trump said Washington had agreed to buy Russian diesel to reduce global energy prices. He said Russia would provide more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, another 500,000 tonnes in November and 1m tonnes thereafter.

Trump has also demanded that Ukraine stop attacking Russian oil refineries. Ukraine announced a unilateral energy ceasefire but resumed the strikes after Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian power plants and substations.