Trump defends Russia sanctions waiver, slams Zelensky

On Sunday, October 18, President Donald Trump defended his decision to hold off on new sanctions against Russia. He argued that more pressure on Moscow could undercut peace talks, and he accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting the war to end. "My decision on Russia is a very simple one," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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".france24.com

The post followed an executive order Trump signed late Friday. It waived broad new sanctions required by legislation named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. That law, passed by Congress, includes sanctions on Russian officials, banks and energy traders, plus possible steep tariffs on countries that keep importing Russian oil and gas.nypost.com+1

Talks and an unnamed document

Trump said "great progress is being made" and that this "includes current hostage negotiations." He added that signing "that document at this time" would push Russia away, but "I can sign it later, or any time that I want!" The White House did not immediately say which document he meant. He also did not say who the hostages were.france24.com+1

He tied his approach to the U.S. war with Iran as well. He wrote that Russia "is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran," and that he wants to keep it that way "unless stupid people get in the way".kyivindependent.com

Refinery strikes and fuel prices

Trump said 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 added that Zelensky "doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did". "His country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost," Trump wrote. "I WANT THIS WAR END!".kyivindependent.com+1

The sanctions waiver came a week after Trump made a deal with Vladimir Putin on Russian diesel exports, which he said was meant to lower fuel prices before the November 3 midterm elections. Fuel costs have risen sharply since the Iran war began in late February, and polls suggest Republicans are on track for heavy losses.france24.com+1

Backlash in Kyiv and Washington

At least 10 Republican senators, along with House members, have spoken out against both deals. In a Bloomberg interview on Sunday, Zelensky accused Trump of pressuring Kyiv to surrender to Russia. He also spoke that day with U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as part of a push to restart stalled talks. Ukraine says its strikes on Russian energy sites respond to Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian power facilities and are meant to cut the money Russia has for its war.businesstimes.com.sg+1