US defends Russia sanctions waiver as Zelenskyy rift deepens

On Sunday, top officials from the administration of former President Donald Trump defended a recent decision to waive sanctions on Russian diesel. This move came as tensions between Washington and Ukraine escalated further. Trump announced on Friday that he was waiving key provisions of sanctions against Russia, stating that the decision was in the national interest.

The order came two days before the law's implementation deadline and followed Trump's surprising decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel, which faced opposition from Europe and his Republican party. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the administration utilized a 60-day pause in the sanctions law to assess the situation.

The waiver allowed Russia to send 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and global markets immediately, with additional shipments to follow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move, stating that it would support Russia's war efforts. The Kremlin confirmed that Russian diesel had begun reaching global markets after the agreement with Trump.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright dismissed concerns that the waiver provided Russia with an "economic lifeline," arguing that it served as an incentive for Russia to reduce the conflict with Ukraine. The Trump administration aimed to lower US diesel prices before the midterm elections, despite short-term political costs. Zelenskyy called the diesel deal "dangerous" and emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz's closure, not US actions, drove this year's energy price surge.

He also alleged that the US government was behind a slowdown in US-provided Starlink internet services to Ukraine, but the US denied these claims. Bessent accused Zelenskyy of making false statements and questioned Ukraine's status as a US ally, stating that the war must end through a negotiated settlement, with the US working towards that goal.