Trump Defends Russia Sanctions Waiver 

United States President Donald Trump has defended his decision to ease some sanctions on Russia, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of undermining efforts to end the war.

Trump argued on Sunday that maintaining diplomatic channels with Moscow was necessary to secure a peace deal, despite criticism over his administration’s decision to relax restrictions on Russian oil products.

He said his approach was intended to prevent actions that could push Russia away from negotiations with Ukraine.

“My decision on Russia is a very simple one. 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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The remarks come after Trump signed an executive order late Friday waiving broad new sanctions mandated by legislation named for the late US senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s defence.

Trump has also temporarily eased restrictions on Russian diesel exports, allowing additional supplies into global markets in an effort to reduce fuel prices ahead of the November 3 US elections.

The decision has reportedly unsettled Kyiv and its allies, further straining Trump’s already volatile relationship with Zelensky.

Trump maintained that negotiations were progressing, including discussions involving the release of hostages, although he offered no further details about the talks.

He also argued that maintaining a more accommodating position towards Moscow could serve another US interest, claiming Russia had provided limited assistance to Iran during the ongoing conflict involving the Islamic Republic.

“Great progress is being made” in talks on the war, “and that includes current hostage negotiations!” Trump said.

“Signing that document at this time will do that, and I can sign it later, or any time that I want!” he said, though it was unclear to what document he was referring.

“Perhaps more importantly, Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared to what they could be doing, and I want to keep it that way, and will, unless stupid people get in the way,” Trump added.

The US president then accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting Russian refineries to disrupt fuel markets and damage the Republican Party’s prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump claimed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refining facilities were contributing to disruptions in diesel supplies, including in the United States.

He further accused Zelensky of prolonging the conflict despite financial and military assistance from European countries and the previous administration of former President Joe Biden.

“Zelenskyy 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,” Trump said.

“Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him, and that Crooked Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” he added.

The dispute comes as rising fuel costs weigh on American voters ahead of the November 3 elections. Polling cited in reports suggests Republicans face a difficult contest, with economic concerns adding pressure on the party.