Trump defends Russia sanctions pause and escalates criticism of Zelenskyy
publishers 14articles 15first reported 16 Oct, 02:30 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 17 editions
US President Donald Trump defended his decision to suspend or waive new sanctions on Russia, saying the move was intended to keep Moscow involved in negotiations over the war in Ukraine.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said he did not want to drive Russia “away from the bargaining table” and claimed progress was being made. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the measure as a 60-day pause while officials assess its potential effects on the US and global economies. Trump also temporarily permitted Russian diesel exports as his administration seeks to curb fuel-price increases.
Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war and criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries. Zelenskyy rejected comparisons between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Russia launched the full-scale invasion in 2022. He told NBC News that US support for Moscow would be a “historic mistake” and said easing sanctions would strengthen Russia’s war effort.
Zelenskyy said he had spoken with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as diplomatic contacts continued. He also said US intelligence sharing with Ukraine had resumed after being interrupted. Rubio denied that any disruption was deliberate and said no US official had ordered reported restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink service.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the sanctions decision, while Ukraine and European allies criticized the administration’s opening to Russian energy exports.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 62 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 14
- Source articles
- 15
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 62 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →