KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to supporters Saturday to advocate for newly imposed U.S. sanctions targeting Russia, following President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing a comprehensive package of economic restrictions on Moscow.
The White House’s decision has intensified concerns that Ukraine may face heightened vulnerability to Russian advances as winter approaches, with ongoing attacks escalating in frequency and intensity.
Recent Russian strikes resulted in at least four fatalities overnight, including an ambulance driver, and injured dozens, according to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone operations targeted a woman in Russia’s Belgorod region and disrupted flights at Moscow’s airports, per Russian reports.
In a social media statement, Zelenskyy characterized Trump’s move as “unfortunate” while avoiding direct criticism, though tensions between Kyiv and Washington have grown in recent days. He emphasized the need for pressure on Russia to end the conflict.
“A decision was made in America to disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which aims to impose effective pressure on Russia to halt this war,” Zelenskyy wrote. He commended bipartisan support for the legislation and warned that suspending it would only embolden Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, stressing that limiting its capacity to counter Russian attacks would not foster peace. He urged Trump to “do everything possible” to compel Putin to cease targeting energy infrastructure and end hostilities.
The Lindsey Graham Act, named after the late South Carolina senator, sought to swiftly sanction Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of tankers sustaining the war effort. Though Trump signed the bill last month, his Monday executive order delayed its implementation, citing national interests without further explanation.
Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized Trump’s reversal, accusing the president of abandoning American allies and “sucking up to Vladimir Putin.” The bill’s supporters argue the sanctions are critical to weakening Russia’s war machine.
Trump’s decision follows a controversial announcement last week about purchasing Russian diesel to alleviate global energy prices—a move condemned by both parties as counterproductive to Ukraine’s war effort. He pledged shipments of over 300,000 tons immediately, with larger deliveries planned for November and beyond.
Economists and policymakers have dismissed the deal as ineffective for reducing global fuel prices, which they attribute to Trump’s broader policies. Meanwhile, Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy grid Friday, damaging over 15 sites, Zelenskyy reported.
The Ukrainian air force said it neutralized all four Russian cruise missiles and 289 of 332 attack drones launched overnight. Russia’s military reported shooting down 610 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions, including Crimea, and grounding over 100 flights in Moscow.
Deadly strikes hit the Ukrainian cities of Sloviansk and Kherson, with officials confirming civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. In Kherson, a Russian guided bomb strike killed an ambulance driver and wounded 33 others.
Additionally, a Russian woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike in the Belgorod region, local authorities confirmed. Despite ongoing attacks, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a program to rebuild key trade and logistics facilities damaged in drone incidents.
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