Trump defends halt to Russia sanctions, says Zelenskyy does not want peace

U.S. President Donald Trump defended his decision to waive sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, saying on Truth Social he did not want to “drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.” He wrote that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.” Trump also criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, saying they hurt global diesel markets.

In an executive order signed late on Oct. 16, Trump waived nearly all measures in the law he signed in September, two days before they were due to take effect. They included tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas such as China and India, and sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called the move “beyond irresponsible,” while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said it gave Russia’s economy “life support.” The White House said the act gives the president additional authorities to pursue a peaceful resolution.

Zelenskyy told NBC’s “Meet the Press” the waiver would hurt Ukraine and strengthen Putin’s war effort, while confirming U.S. intelligence sharing had resumed. Overnight into Sunday, Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, hitting oil facilities near St. Petersburg; Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 1,015 drones.