Trump pauses Russia sanctions

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Saturday pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy, hours before Zelenskyy urged support for the measures.

Zelenskyy calls the move unfortunate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump's decision to disregard the Lindsey Graham Act was unfortunate, describing it as failing to impose effective pressure on Russia to end the war.

“A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end.”

What the Lindsey Graham Act does

Named after late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, the legislation sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers keeping Russian energy moving to clamp down on resources fueling the war.

Trump signed it last month

Trump personally signed the Lindsey Graham Act legislation just last month. His pause came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation.

Critics say Trump helps Putin

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, said Trump was turning his back on Americans, Congress and European allies.

“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin.”

Trump's diesel deal with Russia

Trump's pause follows his announcement that the US agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to lower global energy prices.

Russia strikes energy infrastructure

Zelenskyy said Moscow carried out a massive strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure Saturday, targeting more than fifteen sites across the country. Russian forces launched four cruise missiles and three hundred thirty-two attack drones overnight.

Overnight attacks kill at least four

Russian attacks overnight killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver in Kherson region, and wounded dozens. Three people died in Sloviansk when Russian strikes partially destroyed two apartment blocks.

Ukraine strikes Moscow airports

Ukrainian drones killed a woman in Russia's Belgorod border region and disrupted flights at Moscow's airports. More than three hundred fifty flights were canceled or delayed as planes were grounded in response to incoming drones.

Winter brings escalating fears

Russia's heavy bombardment of Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter aims to wear down Ukraine's appetite for fighting by denying civilians heat and running water.