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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the waiver extended by Washington, which has led to the easing of sanctions on Russian oil, amid rising energy prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East war.
In a post shared on Sunday, Zelensky said “every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war”, and the billions of dollars involved are used for devastating strikes on Ukraine.
The US issued a month-long sanctions waiver on Friday, allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea. The US sanctions waiver allows for the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that have been loaded onto any vessel as of Friday, through 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on May 16.
The waiver was extended to ease soaring energy prices. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said that Washington would not renew the waiver two days before it was extended.
Zelensky said there were more than 110 tankers carrying Russian oil in breach of international sanctions currently at sea, carrying more than 12 million tonnes of crude, which, due to the easing of sanctions, can once again be sold without consequences.
“That is $10 billion — a resource that is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
He also said Russia had launched more than 2,360 attack drones, more than 1,320 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 60 missiles of various types in Ukrainian cities and communities in the past week. He demanded that Russian tankers be stopped and restricted from delivering oil to ports.
“The aggressor’s oil exports must decrease, and Ukraine’s long-range sanctions continue to work toward that goal,” Zelensky added.
Trump and Zelensky’s relationship appears to be delicate at the moment. The Ukrainian leader had an altercation with Trump at the Oval Office in 2025.
In its war against Russia, which has entered its fifth year, Ukraine needs US support to fight Russia, but the European country has, however, faced pressure from the Trump administration to sign off on a deal to end the war.
Members of the Democrats have also criticised the waiver.
“This decision is shameful and a 180-degree reversal from Secretary Bessent, just two days after he pledged not to extend sanctions relief for Russia,” said Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren in a statement.
“Make no mistake, Putin has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of President Trump’s war against Iran, as Russia saw oil revenues nearly double in March.”
