Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky denounces the lifting of US sanctions against Russia decided by Donald Trump

Diplomatic tensions between Washington and Kyiv are escalating. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday denounced the decision of his American counterpart, Donald Trump, to lift several sanctions targeting Russia and to suspend tariffs on certain Russian products, just days before they were to take effect.

In a message posted on X, the Ukrainian leader stated that this decision directly favored Moscow, while the war in Ukraine continues. He warned that a relaxation of American economic pressure could encourage Russia to intensify its military operations.

Donald Trump’s decision comes amid rising energy prices in the United States, fueled in particular by disruptions in global supplies linked to the conflict with Iran. The White House is seeking to limit the economic consequences of this crisis just weeks before the US midterm elections on November 3.

For Kyiv, this easing represents a diplomatic setback. Economic sanctions are one of the main instruments used by Western countries to reduce the financial resources available to Moscow to continue its military offensive.

Relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have also become strained over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. The American president believes that these attacks contribute to the rise in global oil prices, while Kyiv claims it is targeting infrastructure that helps finance the Russian war effort.

This new divergence comes as Washington and Moscow have recently begun discussions on several economic projects, particularly in the energy sector. These closer ties are fueling Ukrainian concerns about the evolution of American support.

Despite these tensions, the Ukrainian authorities are maintaining their diplomatic contacts with representatives of the Trump administration, in the hope of preserving military assistance and intelligence capabilities essential to their defense.

However, Donald Trump did not present this suspension as definitive. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, specified that the American president would have up to 60 days to assess the economic consequences of the sanctions.