Zelenskyy says Trump could lift more Russia sanctions

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday (October 17, 2026) that he feared the United States would lift more sanctions on Russia and and that President Donald Trump’s action only “rewards” Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Trump heightened a battle with Mr. Zelenskyy on Friday (October 16, 2026) when he signed an executive order that waived sweeping U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s energy revenues.

The decision came despite Russia increasing strikes on Ukraine in the fifth year of its war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.

Mr. Trump had already announced that he has agreed a deal with Mr. Putin to allow exports of Russian diesel in exchange for the easing of sanctions, and Mr. Zelenskyy said he feared more concessions.

“Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue. I believe the ‘diesel deal’ is just the first step,” Mr. Zelenskyy told reporters.

He said he still “personally” hoped that Mr. Trump will do “everything in his power” to make Mr. Putin end the war but added: “You cannot achieve this by limiting Ukraine’s responses to Russia for killing our people. And certainly not by lifting sanctions.”

Ukraine said at least two people were killed in Russian air strikes on Saturday.

Mr. Zelenskyy said the U.S. decision on Friday came the same day as Russia attacked 15 critical power generation facilities across Ukraine in “one of the largest” attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid.

Officials said one person was killed in the southern city of Kherson in an attack that also wounded 22 people, including two children, and that another was killed in the northeastern city of Sumy.

Mr. Zelenskyy said the U.S. decision on Friday came the same day as Russia attacked 15 critical power generation facilities across Ukraine in “one of the largest” attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid.

The Lindsey Graham Act -- named after the late U.S. Senator who sponsored the bill -- targeted Russia’s energy and defence sectors, as well as Putin and the so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers used by Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions.

“It is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening,” Mr. Zelenskyy said on social media.