# Zelensky condemns Trump's Russia sanctions waiver

> Ukraine's president says the US decision to block oil and gas sanctions rewards Putin and encourages further attacks.
- Title: Zelensky condemns Trump's Russia sanctions waiver · RFI
- Summary: Ukraine's president says the US decision to block oil and gas sanctions rewards Putin and encourages further attacks. US President Donald Trump waived…
- Keywords: volodymyr zelensky, donald trump, vladimir putin, ukraine, russia, sanctions, oil and gas, lindsey graham act, ukraine war, news, world, Zelensky
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/international/20261017-zelensky-says-us-move-to-waive-sanctions-rewards-russia-s-putin
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: volodymyr zelensky, donald trump, vladimir putin, ukraine, russia, sanctions, oil and gas, lindsey graham act, ukraine war, news, world
## Trump blocks Russia sanctions
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions aimed at reducing money Russia receives from oil and gas sales.
## Timing defies Russian escalation
The waiver came despite Russia increasing strikes on Ukraine and days before the measures were to take effect under a law Trump signed last month.
## Trump cites national interest
Trump said the waiver was in the national interests of the US, without providing further explanation for the decision.
## The Lindsey Graham Act targeted
The act targeted Russia's energy and defence sectors, Putin personally, and the shadow fleet of tankers Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions.
## Zelensky attacks the decision
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the waiver after Russian forces attacked fifteen critical power generation facilities across Ukraine.
## Zelensky's core complaint
Zelensky wrote that a US sanctions blackout eases pressure on Russia and provides financial rewards to Putin, encouraging continued attacks.

> A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin, all of this only encourages him to keep attacking.
## Russia celebrates the move
Kirill Dmitriev, a Putin envoy, called the suspension of the Graham Act an important and truly historic moment on social media.

> The Trump administration's suspension of the Graham Act is an important and truly historic moment.
## Dmitriev's economic argument
Dmitriev said the Graham Act would have caused serious damage first and foremost to the US economy and global markets.
## Trump's deal with Putin
Trump's waiver came after he struck a deal with Putin to ease existing sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets.
## Zelensky rallies European support
Zelensky visited Brussels for an EU summit Friday, urging allies to keep financing Ukraine's fight and insisting he stood up for his country.
## Europe increases its commitment
European Council chief Antonio Costa said now is the time to increase support and pressure, not withdraw it from Ukraine.

> Now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure.
## Putin vows to seize more territory
Putin told army leaders Friday he sees a positive trend in operations and said Moscow intends to seize the rest of east Ukraine by force, including the Donetsk People's Republic.

> Undoubtedly, one of the main objectives remains the liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic.
## Key takeaway

US President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russian energy sectors; Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the move as rewarding Putin and encouraging continued attacks.