Trump Defends Russia Sanctions Waiver, Renews Criticism of Zelensky Amid Peace Talks

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his decision to waive certain sanctions on Russia while again accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of obstructing efforts to end the nearly three-year war.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump characterized the sanctions relief as a tactical necessity for ongoing diplomacy. “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,” he wrote.

The move follows an executive order signed late Friday that waived broad new sanctions mandated by legislation named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime advocate for Ukraine’s defense. Separately, the administration has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports, aiming to increase global supply and lower fuel prices ahead of the November 3 election.

The diesel waiver drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and its allies, reigniting tensions between Trump and Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader has previously argued that energy revenue sustains Russia’s war machine.

Trump claimed “great progress is being made” in peace negotiations, “and that includes current hostage negotiations!” He added that he could finalize relevant documents “later, or any time that I want,” though he did not specify which agreement he referenced. The White House did not immediately clarify the remarks.

The president also asserted that Russia has been restrained in its support for Iran, stating, “Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared to what they could be doing, and I want to keep it that way.”

Trump repeated his accusation that Ukraine has deliberately targeted Russian refineries to disrupt global diesel markets and damage Republican electoral prospects. “Zelensky is using Diesel Refineries in Russia as a target, knowing that these attacks are seriously hurting the world diesel markets, including those in the United States,” he said.

He further contended that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” citing the substantial financial support Ukraine has received from Europe and the previous Biden administration.

Polling indicates Trump’s party faces significant headwinds in the upcoming election, with voter frustration over elevated fuel costs — driven in part by the conflict that escalated in late February — weighing heavily on the electorate.

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