Trump’s pause on Russia sanctions is ‘reward’ for Putin, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticizes US decision to pause sanctions on Russia, warning it will embolden Vladimir Putin and intensify the war in Ukraine.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Donald Trump's decision to roll back sanctions on Russia as a 'reward' for Vladimir Putin and warned it will embolden the Russian leader and intensify the Kremlin's war.

The Ukrainian president also said he expected the Trump administration to lift more sanctions against Russia in the future and called for Europe to establish its own negotiations with Moscow as the US has sought better ties and business deals with the Kremlin.

Zelenskyy said the decision to waive the sanctions would encourage Vladimir Putin to intensify the war in Ukraine and called for support in the US to resurrect the bill.

The move was greeted by the Russian presidential envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who wrote on social media: 'The Trump administration's suspension of the Graham Act is an important and truly historic moment.'

The legislation, which sanctions Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps the country's energy supplies moving, was due to be implemented in two days.

It also directs Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.