In brief
President Trump announced the suspension of key sanctions on Russia as part of a strategy to maintain dialogue with Moscow over the Ukraine war. The move follows heated exchanges between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the former accusing Zelensky of failing to seek a lasting peace. New York‑based US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the pause as a 60‑day trial period to assess economic impacts. The decision has drawn criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who fear it may appear to support the Russian war effort.
President Donald Trump has halted several U.S. sanctions on Russia to keep cashier Moscow on the negotiating table over the Ukraine conflict.
Trump announced the pause on his Truth Social platform tonight, saying it would avoid driving Moscow away from the bargaining table. The sanctions, slated to take effect in three days, were part of a U.S. strategy to pressure Russia for a peace deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the U.S. of backing Russia by allowing sanctions to be lifted, calling the move a historic mistake. Zelensky has repeatedly urged for stringent sanctions that would limit Russian war funding.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the suspension is a 60‑day pause to evaluate its economic impact, noting new legislation had softened sanctions this September.
Critics argue the decision sends a signal that the U.S. may be leaning toward Russia in its war effort, especially after a recent deal to import Russian diesel to lower U.S. energy costs amid the Middle East conflict.
In a separate statement, Zelensky praised U.S. leadership but warned the deal could be interpreted as support for Russia, highlighting concerns over Ukrainian military communications, such as Starlink disruptions.
