Trump defends Russia sanctions waivers, accuses Zelenskyy of 'prolonging war'

US President Donald Trumpon Sunday defended his decision to waive some sanctions on Russia, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war.

"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Zelenskyy doesn't care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him, and that Crooked Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did," he added.

Trump signed an executive order late Friday waiving broad new sanctions mandated by legislation named for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine's defense.

He has also temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel, allowing supplies to flow into global markets in a bid to lower fuel prices ahead of US midterm elections on November 3.

Trump links Russia sanctions waiver to fuel prices ahead of midterms

Opinion polls suggest that Republicans could face significant losses in the election, as voters voice growing frustration over fuel prices that have surged since the Iran war began in late February. 

Most economists believe the suspension of congressionally approved sanctions on Russia and the diesel deal with the Kremlin will do little to lower US fuel prices.

Trump also repeated his claim that Ukraine was targeting Russian refineries to hurt Republicans ahead of the midterm election.

How Trump is helping Putin

The move drew a sharp response from Kyiv and its allies, further straining relations between Trump and Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy warns Ukraine cannot prevail if US backs Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday that Ukraine would lose its defensive battle against Russia if the United States switched sides and supported Moscow.

"If the United States will take the side of Russia, of course we will not prevail," Zelenskyy told NBC's 'Meet the Press' calling a withdrawal of US support "a historic mistake and big tragedy."

He said Washington had resumed sharing intelligence after it was "blocked for some period of time," adding that Ukraine had missed critical intelligence on ballistic missile attacks for three days.

Zelenskyy also criticized US restrictions affecting Ukraine's war effort, saying, "We are strategic partners," but "we cannot applaud when someone turns against Ukraine."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump's suspension of new sanctions on Russia, saying Trump wanted to assess their impact on the global and US economies.

Zelenskyy speaks to US envoys as Trump renews criticism

Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as Russia and Ukraine attacked each other's energy infrastructure, leaving thousands without power in Ukraine and setting an oil refinery ablaze near Saint Petersburg.

After the talks, Zelenskyy said "a lot depends" on the US position, adding that "this war must be brought to an end." Ukraine was ready to work "constructively" and "honestly," he said, calling for the same approach from its European and US partners.

Zelenskyy said he also discussed deliveries of US Patriot air defense systems as Kyiv struggles to counter Russian missiles.

A US-led push to end the war has yet to yield a breakthrough, with Trump expressing frustration at both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of violating Trump's "energy ceasefire" 76 times and warned Russia planned to deprive Ukrainians of heat and electricity before winter. Russian strikes left "tens of thousands" without power, he said, while Ukrainian officials reported three deaths.

Ukraine launched drones at Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg late Sunday, setting an oil refinery ablaze and killing one person, Moscow said.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

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