Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions against Russia’s energy revenues.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders to increase support, citing nearly $80 billion in needed funding.
- The move has fueled concerns that Trump is siding with Moscow, amid disruptions to US-provided satellite systems.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving sweeping US sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia’s energy revenues, marking a new low in Washington’s ties with Ukraine.
The Lindsey Graham Act, which Trump signed into law last month, had allowed him to impose duties up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, targeting Russia’s energy and defense sectors, as well as Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers.
In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders to keep financing Kyiv’s fight, requesting nearly $80 billion more next year.
The move has fueled concerns that Trump is siding with Moscow, as the US leader’s war in Iran has sparked crippling oil shortages and price spikes, creating major headwinds for his Republican Party ahead of midterm elections next month.
In another sign of strained relations, Trump branded Kyiv’s actions a “disgrace” after Zelensky ordered his forces to resume strikes on Russian refineries.
European leaders put on a show of unity with Zelensky, with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten stating that the situation in Ukraine is “truly dire” and that it is crucial to demonstrate unconditional support.
Zelensky asked the bloc to provide more Patriot missiles to shoot down Russian missiles and come up with an extra 70 billion euros ($79 billion) in support next year to help Kyiv keep fighting.
The breakdown between Trump and Zelensky has raised fears that the US leader is siding with Moscow, amid disruptions to a critical US-provided satellite system that has hampered Ukraine’s ability to counter Russia’s intense bombardments.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which provides battlefield communications technology to Ukraine, denied any involvement in the disruption, while a US official denied any intervention by Trump.
This is my answer.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President
This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions.
Antonio Costa, European Council Chief
The situation in Ukraine is currently truly dire, with numerous Russian attacks and a tense relationship between Ukraine and the US.
Rob Jetten, Dutch Prime Minister
