‘Boosting Russia, not peace’: Zelenskyy criticizes US sanctions relief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized the United States’ recent 30-day waiver on sanctions targeting Russian oil, warning that the move could strengthen Moscow’s war effort rather than bring peace. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelenskyy said the waiver risks giving Russia roughly USD 10 billion to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

“This easing alone could provide Russia with the resources to buy more weapons, including drones,” Zelenskyy said. “Lifting sanctions temporarily only empowers the aggressor. In my opinion, this is not the right decision.”

The US Treasury Department announced the waiver on Thursday, citing the need to free Russian cargoes stranded at sea and to ease supply shortages caused by the ongoing Iran war. Analysts, however, have warned that skyrocketing oil prices are already benefiting Russia’s economy, which heavily relies on energy revenue to finance the conflict. Zelenskyy noted that while US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv remain paused due to the Iran conflict, discussions could resume next week. Macron stressed that broad sanctions on Russia remain in place , describing the US waiver as “limited” and “exceptional,” not a permanent rollback.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed opposition, saying six of the G7 nations had earlier voiced that waiving Russian sanctions was the wrong signal. “There is a price problem, not a supply problem. The US decision appears to go against this consensus,” he said during a visit to Norway.

Beyond diplomacy, Ukraine is positioning itself as a global leader in drone interception technology . Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv has already received requests from six countries for drone combat assistance, and has dispatched expert teams to three. The Ukrainian president emphasized that interceptors alone are not enough, highlighting the need for systematic coordination with radars and air defence systems . Ukraine is also awaiting White House approval for an agreement to produce battle-tested drones, aiming to exchange its expertise for high-end weaponry it cannot manufacture domestically. “We are ready to share our experience for the security of partners helping Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.