Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that President Donald Trump’s sanctions relief would encourage Russia to keep killing, following European appeals to maintain economic pressure on Moscow.
In comments to journalists shared in a post on X, Zelenskyy warned that Trump’s diesel agreement with Russia and his decision to waive Graham Act sanctions could be followed by further concessions.
“Sanctions relief will continue. I think the diesel deal and the move regarding the Lindsey Graham Act are not the end of it. Unfortunately,” he said.
Zelenskyy thanked the Democrats and Republicans who supported the legislation, describing its bipartisan backing as a major victory. He said blocking its measures was wrong and would encourage Russia to continue the war.
“And it definitely helps only the Russians,” he said. “This certainly does not stop the war.”
Trump’s executive order, signed Friday, waives broad sanctions and tariff increases under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The president signed the legislation Sept. 18.
Trump said he had submitted certifications and reports to Congress explaining why the waivers serve U.S. national interests. The order does not reproduce those reports or provide a detailed explanation for the decision.
It expressly preserves sanctions imposed under earlier executive orders tied to the Russia national emergency. The new waivers have no fixed expiration date.
Zelenskyy also paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, recalling their close relationship and Graham’s visit to Ukraine shortly before his death. He said Graham consistently pressed for more assistance to Ukraine.
European Warnings Against Easing Pressure
Before Trump issued Friday’s order, European Council President António Costa urged allies to strengthen support for Ukraine and maintain sanctions against Russia.
“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions,” Costa said Friday morning, according to an official European Council transcript.
Speaking alongside Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Costa argued that greater pressure was necessary to secure a genuine ceasefire and bring Russia into negotiations.
He assured Zelenskyy that EU support remained strong, both during the war and in Ukraine’s effort to join the bloc. Costa said two additional groups of accession negotiating topics had opened that week.
Costa also praised Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s parliament for continuing to negotiate, pass legislation and carry out reforms during the war.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the earlier Russian diesel agreement at his own Brussels news conference Friday, according to ANSA.
Macron said easing diesel sanctions would not solve the global market problem or effectively bring down fuel prices. He argued that the decision sent a negative signal and created division and distrust.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had rejected following the U.S. diesel decision on Oct. 12. Russia would negotiate seriously only under pressure, he argued, according to dpa-AFX.
Merz said Germany and Europe would retain their sanctions and called for stronger penalties following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. His remarks, like Costa’s and Macron’s, preceded Friday’s Graham Act waiver.
Criticism in Washington
American lawmakers also challenged Trump’s decision.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., rejected the national-interest justification in a post on X Saturday.
“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” he wrote. He urged Republicans to condemn what he called a “craven, cowardly action.”
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said in a post on X: “The President is prolonging the war, not ending it.”
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., called the waiver “Trump’s latest surrender to Putin” in his own post on X. He accused Trump of betraying Ukraine and disregarding Congress’s intent in passing the sanctions legislation.
Three days before the waiver, 12 senators had signed an Oct. 13 letter urging Trump to implement the law and reverse the separate diesel agreement.
Republican signers included Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins and John Cornyn. Democrats included Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin.
“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” the senators wrote.
They argued that Russian diesel sales would provide Moscow with money for its war while offering Americans little relief from fuel prices.
Tariffs and Financial Restrictions Waived
The executive order outlines an additional 500% duty on Russian goods and additional 100% duties on goods from certain countries buying Russian energy or facilitating sanctions evasion. Section 4 waives those increases.
One provision targets goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas if they knowingly make new purchases beginning Oct. 18. Another targets the five leading countries facilitating Russian oil sanctions evasion.
The order names no countries in either group.
The waivers also cover provisions addressing Russian financial institutions, government-linked entities, certain money transfers, securities trading, investment and energy transactions.
Trump set no end date for the waivers. He or the secretary of state can decide when further action is needed, consulting Treasury and trade officials as appropriate.
The U.S. trade representative must keep track of Russian oil and gas purchases and efforts to evade sanctions. The office must report its findings to Trump and recommend further action, including any changes to the waivers.
Have something to promote?
Bring your business, services or event to our readers.
