Zelenskyy condemns Trump’s waiver of Russia sanctions and tariffs
publishers 46articles 47first reported 16 Oct, 16:45 UTCdeveloping since 16 Oct · 10 editions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised US President Donald Trump’s decision to waive key sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia, saying the move would benefit Moscow and encourage further attacks on Ukraine.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday suspending provisions of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 shortly before they were due to take effect. The measures included higher duties on Russian imports and tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. Trump said the waiver was in the US national interest.
Zelenskyy called the decision “wrong” and said it “definitely helps only the Russians.” He also said Russia had struck more than 15 Ukrainian power-generation and transmission sites on Friday and was preparing to intensify attacks in western Ukraine.
Trump said he did not want to drive Russia away from peace negotiations and linked the decision to efforts to increase Russian diesel supplies to global markets. He also accused Ukraine of worsening diesel shortages by attacking Russian refineries and blamed Zelenskyy for prolonging the war.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration had invoked a 60-day pause while it assessed developments, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright described access to diesel exports as an incentive for Russia to reduce the conflict. Zelenskyy rejected that rationale, arguing the arrangement would support Russia’s war effort without meaningfully lowering US energy prices.
Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the waiver as a “truly historic moment.”
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 3 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 3 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.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 3, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
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- This version written
- 62 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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