Trump Defends Russia Sanctions Waiver, Accuses Zelensky of Prolonging War

US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to waive sanctions on Russia, saying he wants to keep Moscow at the negotiating table to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. He also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war.

“My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

Trump also criticised Zelensky over Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries. He said these attacks were taking place despite the impact on global diesel markets.

“Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him… he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” Trump wrote.

On October 9, Trump announced plans for Russia to supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to the United States and global markets to help control rising fuel prices. Energy prices have increased since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February.

The conflict led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which one-fifth of global energy exports passed before the war.

Zelensky criticised the move, calling it a “financial reward for Putin.” He argued that selling more energy would increase Russia’s income, strengthen its economy and encourage Moscow to continue the war against Ukraine.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Zelensky said Trump’s diesel fuel deal with Putin “will hurt Ukraine.”

He added that the deal would make his efforts to end the war more difficult while strengthening Russia’s ability to continue its military campaign in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2022.

Trump and his Republican Party, which controls Congress, are also facing pressure over rising energy prices and the increasing cost of living. The situation has been worsened by the ongoing war on Iran as the November 3 midterm elections approach.

Polls show growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies and performance. Increasing numbers of Americans are questioning whether his administration is following the right policies and whether it is implementing them effectively.