Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday urged continued support for new U.S. sanctions targeting Russia, following President Donald Trump’s executive order that put the measures on hold. The sanctions, known as the Lindsey Graham Act, were set to take effect Sunday but were paused by Trump, who cited unspecified national interests without providing further explanation. The legislation aimed to intensify economic pressure on Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine, targeting Russian officials, banks, and a covert tanker fleet responsible for transporting Russian energy.
Zelensky described the decision as a setback but avoided direct criticism of Trump in his public statements, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan support for the sanctions. “This Act could have helped enormously—and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters,” he said. He thanked both Democrats and Republicans who backed the legislation, warning that blocking the measures might embolden Russia to continue hostilities and that limiting Ukraine’s capacity to respond would not foster peace. Zelensky also expressed hope that the U.S. president would do everything possible to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease attacks, particularly those targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The executive order sparked a strong reaction from U.S. lawmakers across party lines. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-author of the sanctions bill, criticized Trump’s decision as turning away from the will of Congress and U.S. allies, accusing the president of prioritizing relations with Putin over national security. Senator John Cornyn described the move as “reckless” and suggested it might warrant investigation, while other Republicans, including Senator Thom Tillis, voiced similar condemnation. Critics argue the waivers undermine efforts to curtail Russia’s war capabilities and weaken international coordination against Moscow.
The sanctions bill, passed last month and named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, sought to cut off key financial resources fueling Russia’s military operations. It included provisions to sanction top buyers of Russian oil and gas as well as extend sanctions on Iran. Trump’s decision to pause the measures followed recent actions such as agreeing to purchase diesel from Russia, a move opposed by many members of both parties on Capitol Hill, who say it indirectly supports Russia’s war efforts without significantly affecting global fuel prices.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face intensified Russian attacks. Overnight strikes killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and Ukrainian forces conducted drone operations in Russian border regions, which reportedly disrupted flights at Moscow’s airports. Zelensky also raised concerns about imposed speed restrictions on Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet used by Ukraine’s drone units. The restrictions, which limit data connectivity when the terminal moves faster than 100 miles per hour, were introduced without warning and appear only to affect Ukraine, hindering drone operations and raising questions about who authorized the limitations. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk indicated that the U.S. government controls the system and that its use is subject to military and presidential decision.
Amid these developments, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, recently met with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is serving as a presidential envoy. According to Zelensky, efforts are underway to arrange a potential three-way meeting involving Zelensky, Trump, and Putin, with possible venues in the Middle East, Europe, or the United States. However, some European officials remain wary of discussions that could involve resuming Russian energy exports to Europe, which would counteract years of efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
The situation remains fluid as winter approaches and Ukraine faces ongoing military and political challenges. Both Kyiv and Washington appear divided over the best approach to pressure Russia and achieve a resolution to the conflict.