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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday he believes the United States will lift more sanctions on Russia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump waived sweeping new penalties under the Graham Act as Moscow carried out one of its largest strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid.
"Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue. I believe the 'diesel deal' is just the first step," Zelenskyy told reporters, referring to Trump’s agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian diesel exports.
The waiver, which shelves tariffs and sanctions Congress passed to choke Russia’s energy revenue, deepens the rift between Kyiv and Washington as Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s power system ahead of winter.
"It seems to me that this way you cannot stop Putin; on the contrary, he feels joy, happiness that he has such support," Zelenskyy said, according to Ukrainian media.
"And still we very much hope, and I personally, that the President of the United States will do everything so that Putin stops the killings, stops the strikes on our energy, stops this war. But again, you won’t do it by restricting Ukraine’s responses to Russia for killing our people. And even less by lifting sanctions," he added.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has information that Russia intends to recover part of its frozen assets through partners, and that he discussed the risks with Belgium and EU leaders, adding the assets remain under full European control.
He said European partners do not support the diesel deal and are working on a new sanctions package, and that Ukraine will need an additional €70 billion ($78.6B) in 2027.
"At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
"This Act could have helped enormously–and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters," he added.
"Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine–right before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this. A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin–all of this only encourages him to keep attacking," he wrote.
"We must not give up ground. We must keep trying to end the war. To end it, not give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely," the Ukrainian president noted.
Trump’s executive order, dated Oct. 16, implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed on Sept. 18.
It raises duties on Russian goods by 500% and imposes 100% duties on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas making new purchases from Oct. 18, as well as the top five facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion.
"I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act," the order said. "I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States."
The waivers remain in effect until the president or secretary of state determines "further action is appropriate." Sanctions imposed under earlier executive orders on Russia are not affected, the order said.
Zelenskyy said Russia targeted more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities, with the hardest-hit areas in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta and Netishyn.
"The Russians have scaled up their anti-energy operation and are trying to stretch our reserves and repair capabilities as thin as possible," he said.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched four cruise missiles and 332 drones overnight. Three people were killed and 35 injured in overnight strikes on both sides, including in Slovyansk, Kherson and Russia’s Belgorod region.
Russia's Defense Ministry announced that it struck steel plants in Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia, a transformer factory in Zaporizhzhia, a power substation in Zhytomyr and a cargo ship it said was carrying military cargo to Odesa.
"These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who helped spearhead the bill.
"Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression," said Democratic Rep. Don Beyer.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon wrote: "The President is prolonging the war, not ending it."
"The Trump administration’s suspension of the Graham Act is an important and truly historic moment," said Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy. "Instead of sanctions and confrontation, we need dialogue, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared responsibility for global stability."
Putin, appearing in military uniform Friday, said: "Undoubtedly, one of the main objectives remains the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic," using Moscow’s name for Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
"This is no time to withdraw support for Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions," European Council President Antonio Costa said Friday, adding "Now it is time to increase our support, to increase our pressure."
French President Emmanuel Macron also said on Friday that U.S. diesel with Russia "sends a negative message" and would have no impact on global prices.
"The volumes of diesel coming out of Russia already exist, they are being purchased by countries and are already on the global market. So it is not true that they will solve the global market problem," Macron said after a European Council meeting.
"I think this will have no impact for President Trump," he added.
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