- Category
- War in Ukraine
Zelenskyy Warns Lifting Sanctions Without De-escalation Signals Weakness to Russia
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced strong opposition to US President Donald Trump’s decision to allow Russian petroleum products back onto global markets, warning that lifting restrictions without enforceable commitments will lead to increased aggression.
Speaking on October 9 following a meeting in Kyiv with a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress, Zelenskyy stressed that easing sanctions without a binding, long-term agreement on de-escalation represents a sign of weakness that enables Moscow to prolong Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
Highlighting recent escalations, Zelenskyy pointed out that previous European measures easing sanctions on Russian oligarchs were immediately followed by intensified strikes across Ukrainian cities.
Over the past week alone, Russian strikes targeted a residential building in Pryluky, city buses in Kramatorsk, and energy and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa, leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured.
He noted that Moscow relies on terror tactics and backroom efforts to relieve economic pressure because Russian military strength on the front line is at its weakest point of the war this year. Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine remains open to a reciprocal agreement on energy strikes.
Ukraine’s targeted strikes against Russian oil refineries and petroleum facilities serve as a direct response to years of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Kyiv has formally proposed a mirror compromise: Ukraine will cease strikes on Russian refineries if Russia halts its destruction of Ukraine's power grid.
Demanding a firm stance from Washington, Zelenskyy called for full enforcement of sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Act, sustained defense support for Ukraine, and continued diplomatic pressure on Moscow.
Zelenskyy recently proposed a conditional energy de-escalation framework to Western partners, indicating that Kyiv is prepared to halt strikes on Russian refineries if international partners can secure and guarantee a complete end to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy, port, and logistics infrastructure.
In a statement, he emphasized that any mutual halt must be reliable, long-term, and enforceable rather than a brief operational pause. Expressing skepticism regarding Moscow’s willingness to abide by an agreement, Zelenskyy warned that Russia might seek temporary relief for its domestic fuel markets ahead of elections before resuming strikes.
Discuss this article:
-113f4f5be3c4077a325f1385448e5e5e.jpg "Memorial in Chertkovo, Rostov region, listing Yakov Maiboroda, who left prison to join Russia’s war against Ukraine. (Source: Social media)")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")