Zelensky Warns Trump’s Russia Sanctions Waiver Encourages Putin as Ukraine Faces Winter Energy Crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that US President Donald Trump’s decision to waive sanctions targeting Russia could embolden Moscow to intensify its war against Ukraine, accusing Washington of easing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin at a critical moment.

In remarks published on Saturday, Zelensky said the decision risked rewarding Russia even as its forces continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

Trump signed an executive order suspending the application of sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey Graham Act, which targeted Russia’s energy and defence sectors, Putin and the country’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to circumvent Western restrictions.

The waiver came amid renewed Russian strikes, including attacks on Ukraine’s energy network. Zelensky said 15 critical power generation facilities were hit on the same day, describing the assault as “one of the largest” attacks on the country’s electricity infrastructure.

“It is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening,” Zelensky said on social media.

He argued that the Graham Act had been designed to exert meaningful economic pressure on Moscow and encourage an end to the war.

The legislation was “supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end”, he said, adding that it “could have helped enormously — and still can!”.

Zelensky warned that lifting the pressure would send the wrong message to the Kremlin.

“A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking,” he said.

The Ukrainian president also accused Moscow of seeking to leave millions of people without basic utilities before the cold season.

“Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating,” he said, urging international partners to maintain pressure on Russia to “stop this”.

Ukraine endured widespread power and heating disruptions during the previous winter, when repeated attacks on energy infrastructure left hundreds of thousands of people without essential services in freezing temperatures.

Fresh Russian strikes kill civilians

The sanctions dispute unfolded alongside further Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian officials said at least two people were killed in Russian air strikes on the day after Trump announced the waiver. In Kherson, one person was killed and 22 others, including two children, were wounded. A separate attack killed one person in Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine.

Ukraine has faced mounting challenges in intercepting Russian missiles and is working to strengthen its defences before winter.

The conflict, now in its fifth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, while Russia continues to hold substantial territory in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Moscow hails sanctions decision

Russian officials welcomed Trump’s decision, despite the absence of an immediate public response from Putin or the Kremlin.

Kirill Dmitriev, a presidential envoy, called the suspension of the Graham Act “an important and truly historic moment”.

Dmitriev also claimed that the legislation would have inflicted “serious damage first and foremost to the US economy and global markets”.

Trump’s decision followed a reported agreement with Putin under which the United States would ease existing sanctions in exchange for Russia releasing significant quantities of diesel onto international markets.

The executive order was announced on Friday, shortly after Putin appeared in military uniform and reiterated Moscow’s intention to capture the remaining parts of eastern Ukraine.

Efforts led by the United States to negotiate an end to the war have so far failed to secure a breakthrough, with Trump expressing frustration over the lack of progress by both sides.

Zelensky, meanwhile, travelled to Brussels on Friday for a European Union summit, where he urged allies to continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily amid the dispute with Washington.

Putin maintains focus on eastern Ukraine

Putin told military leaders on Friday that Russia’s military operations were progressing favourably and reaffirmed the objective of taking control of the Donetsk region.

“On the whole I see a positive trend in the operations of the troop groupings,” he said.

“Undoubtedly, one of the main objectives remains the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Putin added, referring to the Kremlin’s designation for the eastern Ukrainian region.

European leaders rallied behind Zelensky at the Brussels summit, warning against easing economic pressure on Moscow while the war continued.

“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions,” European Council President Antonio Costa said.

“Now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure.”

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