Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump’s recent sanctions waiver to Russia would only encourage it to continue attacks on Ukraine. He was referring to Trump’s decision to waive a new package of sanctions against Russia.
An executive order signed by Trump said the waiver was in the national interests of the United States, according to news agency AP. “Sanctions relief will continue. I think the diesel deal and the move regarding the Lindsey Graham Act are not the end of it. He also spoke fondly of late US senator Lindsey Graham, who worked endlessly on the bill targeting Russia before he died this summer. “He devoted his life to America. We had an excellent relationship with him. He always supported us very strongly and pushed for as much assistance to Ukraine as possible,” Zelensky wrote. The US President’s decision was also not received very well back home, with several members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, criticising the executive order. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine. She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse course.
“What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?
Unfortunately,” he said in a post on X, referring to a deal under which Russia would supply diesel in exchange for relief from US sanctions. “Beyond irresponsible,” Senator Thom Tillis said, hours after Zelensky expressed hope that the sanctions that were supposed to take effect Sunday targeting Russian’s economy could be revived. Tillis said. Republican Senator John Cornyn also took a similar stand on the issue, saying “Lindsey would be appalled”. Senator Elizabeth Warren said Trump is “thumbing his nose” at Congress and “enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression.
And shortly before the tragedy, Lindsey was in Ukraine. However, on Saturday he decided to waive some sanctions against Russia just as they were to take effect under the law.
