Zelensky urges U.S. backing for new sanctions after Trump pauses them

newsOct 17, 202688839

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers Saturday to support new sanctions after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping sanctions package targeting the Russian economy. Zelenskyy called the decision to disregard the Lindsey Graham Act unfortunate, thanked bipartisan backers of the bill, and warned that blocking the measures would encourage Russia to continue killing and would not bring the war to an end. The White House said the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details; the law had been signed by Trump last month and was paused two days before a statutory implementation deadline. Russian strikes overnight killed at least four people in Ukraine, including an ambulance driver, and Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region while Russian authorities reported disrupted flights at Moscow airports. Zelenskyy said Moscow had carried out a massive strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, targeting more than 15 sites across the country. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, said Trump was turning his back on the American majority, Congress, and European allies. Trump also recently said the U.S. had arranged shipments of Russian diesel totaling more than 300,000 tons immediately, 500,000 tons in November, and 1 million tons thereafter.

The Kyiv Independent

@kyivindependent.com

⚡️ 'Putin feels joy' — Zelensky calls Trump's waiving of key Russia sanctions 'wrong.'

4433h ago

The Kyiv Independent124

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17, U.S. President Donald Trump was "wrong" to further "block" sanctions against Russia, while expressing hope that he would do "everything possible" to stop the full-scale war.

Dr Jason Harris9

This man has the temperance of a saint. I don't know how he manages to restrain himself.

Sherri Iona6

Trump is going to get major push back from most of the world

Whyceeit6

Trump has shown his hand and has sold out Ukraine on the promise of a deal with Putin for ownership of a Russian oil company. Trump does not want a "best for America" policy, he wants "best for Trump" policies. Total self interest and anything for the grift.

Antidominionist4

Has he figured out Trump is not his ally yet? Because we’ve been screaming it for 4 years.

pam1114.bsky.social3

The fat ass orange terrorist is doing what his boss tells him. #Krosnov

Quoting this

John Wiswell7

This is what they've done.

NOELREPORTS

@noelreports.com

❗️Zelensky says the US will continue easing sanctions on Russia, calling the diesel deal only the first step. He argued that lifting sanctions and restricting Ukraine’s strikes inside Russia will not stop Putin, and expressed hope Trump will push Moscow to end the war. #Ukraine

1733h ago

katzcph.bsky.social2

The only thing that will make Trump stop kissing Putin’s ass, is the grimm reaper Keep those Big Macs coming

Leah McElrath

@leahmcelrath.bsky.social

ZELENSKYY: “Yesterday, the Russians carried out one of their largest attacks on Ukraine's energy sector… A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin - all of this only encourages him to keep attacking.” (Full post: x.com/zelenskyyua/...)

Volodymyr Zelensky...
@ZelenskyyUa
X.com
Yesterday, the Russians carried out one of their largest attacks on Ukraine's energy sector - more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities were targeted across different regions of Ukraine. Restoration work is ongoing, with all necessary services and all available resources of Ukrainian energy companies involved. I thank everyone working practically nonstop to restore power.

1243h ago

HuffPost

@huffpost.com

Zelenskyy Urges Support For New U.S. Sanctions On Russia After Trump Puts Them On Hold

222h ago

Phillips OBrien

@phillipspobrien.bsky.social

Stop the Lindsey Graham rewriting-history fest. If he had been alive, and Trump had waived sanctions on Russia, he would have done what he had always done for the last 10 years--back Trump to the hilt, without reservations. Ukraine meant nothing to him compared to Trump.

231h ago

tomwellborn3rd

@wellborn.net

Reminder: This man has an active ICC warrant for stealing Ukrainian children, and our president waived his sanctions on a Friday night and called him easier to deal with than Zelensky. The warrant has been sitting there since 2023. Somebody tell the Republicans who used to care about this.

52h ago

sanneru.bsky.social

@sanneru.bsky.social

Zelensky criticizes suspension of US sanctions against Russia Zelensky has criticized the suspension of the new US sanctions against Russia by Trump. A relaxation of the pressure on Russia and financial rewards are only an incentive for Putin to strike further, Zelensky said on Telegram. 1/

52h ago

Sue Stone

@knittingknots.bsky.social

Zelensky Begs Americans to 'See What Is Really Happening' www.mediaite.com/politics/tru...

33h ago

🦋 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘 𝕿𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖓𝖊®

@thorchrs.bsky.social

👇🇺🇸🇷🇺 Helping Vlad "Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies" #RussianSanctionsWaived

22h ago

2021-Free until now 🌊🍂🎃

@patricia-ann.bsky.social

Shame Shame Shame 😐 What say you Darlene?? Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest Darline Graham vs. Annie Andrews: What to know about South Carolina's US Senate race apnews.com/article/russ... www.wcnc.com/article/news...

21h ago

Midterms 2026 Vote!

@ambientvisions.bsky.social

www.commondreams.org/news/trump-r... a slap in the face to Ukraine and the rest of our allies that tRump seeks to punish with tariffs. tRump shows deference to an evil dictator on whom he has modeled his own fascist regime. #impeachtrump #warcrimes #putinswar #trumpswar

21h ago

Bozzi

@bozzione.bsky.social

NORTH CAROLINA PLEASE READ OR LISTEN..... NEWS: Students Rise Up Against GOP Voter Suppression, Trump Branded a “Traitor” Over Putin Sanctions, Trump Threatens to Jail Election Officials aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-stude...

21h ago

Master Coach Hu

@mastercoachhu.bsky.social

Trvmp[666] puts new Russia sanctions passed by Congress ON HOLD Kushner & Witkoff have been conspiring with the Russians on their trips to Moscow to negotiate taking over Lukoil assets in exchange for unknown favors 666 is enriching himself abusing power as a quid pro quo to get kickbacks

12h ago

Eddie Esielionis

@hippymama.bsky.social

Zelensky Begs ‘Everyone in America’ to ‘See What Is Really Happening’ After Trump Pauses Russian Sanctions Bill Source: Mediaite share.newsbreak.com/jvt5a227

11h ago

What a Shit Show!

@airforceace.bsky.social

nypost.com/2026/10/17/w... I am disgusted with this administration and their obvious disdain for democracy and cow towing to a monster. We need to vote in droves on 11/3! 🗳️

11h ago

3 sources

apnews.comTrump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest abc7chicago.comZelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia after Trump puts them on hold huffpost.comZelenskyy Urges Support For New U.S. Sanctions On Russia After Trump Puts Them On Hold

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Zelensky urges U.S. backing for new sanctions after Trump pauses them

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