What happened
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern that the US pause on Russian sanctions will embolden Putin, as Russia continues to increase strikes on Ukraine. The US decision to waive sweeping sanctions targeting Russia's energy revenues was made despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
Zelensky fears that the lifting of sanctions will continue, and that the recent "diesel deal" between the US and Russia is just the first step. He believes that limiting Ukraine's responses to Russia's attacks and lifting sanctions will not help to end the war. Instead, Zelensky warns that it will only encourage Putin to continue attacking Ukraine.
Recent attacks by Russia have targeted critical power generation facilities across Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and wounding many others, including children. Zelensky has called on allies to pressure Moscow to stop its attacks, which aim to cause a "blackout" in Ukraine ahead of winter.
Russian officials have celebrated the US move as a win, with one envoy describing it as an "important and truly historic moment". However, Zelensky remains hopeful that the US will do everything in its power to help end the war, and has emphasized the importance of imposing effective pressure on Russia to bring the conflict to an end.
