Zelenskyy says Trump is ‘rewarding Putin’ as he waives new Russia sanctions passed by Congress

President Donald Trump waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia passed by Congress, arguing in an executive order Friday that the move “is in the national interests of the United States.”

Trump had signed the legislation, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., just last month. The bill took aim at Russia’s largest buyers of oil and gas, allowing the president to impose tariffs on goods from those countries, which may include China and India.

Passed with bipartisan support, the bill was intended to target Russia’s revenue streams as the country continues to wage its war against Ukraine. Suspending the sanctions provides Russia a financial lifeline.

Trump’s decision to put a hold on the sanctions package comes after he announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar.

Trump has expressed frustration with Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure and has blamed them for the increase in fuel costs while downplaying the impact of the Iran war on the oil market.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that lifting sanctions was “wrong” and “only helps the Russians.”

In a Telegram post, he decried what he called an “American sanctions blackout,” adding that a “weakening of pressure on the aggressor, effectively serving as a financial reward for Putin—only encourages him to continue his attacks.”

“It seems to me that this won’t stop Putin,” he later told journalists in WhatsApp messages. “On the contrary, he feels joy and happiness that there is such support.”

The decision to waive the Russia sanctions drew swift condemnation from critics in Congress.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who’s running for re-election in a competitive district, said on Fox News Saturday that he does not support Trump’s decision, calling Putin “a vile dictator and thug.”

“I fully understand the need to get oil and diesel prices down, and we want to do that, but not at the expense of putting money in the pocket of Vladimir Putin so that he can continue to wage this illegal war in Ukraine,” Lawler said.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, who also faces a battle for re-election this November, said in his own Fox News interview that he does not agree with waiving the sanctions, though quickly shifted to acknowledge Trump’s support for Alaska energy.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the move a “craven, cowardly action” in a statement.

“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal said.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said on Fox News Saturday that the decision “was a mistake,” adding that “the current path, unfortunately, just, it benefits Putin, and that’s not a good idea.”

“I think the president, understandably, is focused on diesel prices,” Cruz said. “That being said, people are hurting. People are feeling real pain. But there are other ways to address gas and diesel prices.”

“Beyond irresponsible,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is retiring at the end of his term, wrote on X. “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?”

“If the President wants to actually bring down energy prices, he can do it by solving the Iran problem, not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin,” he added.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a staunch Ukraine ally who is also not seeking re-election next month, said “the president is prolonging the war, not ending it,” in a post on X.

“Lindsey would be appalled,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who lost a primary to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year, wrote.

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who co-sponsored the bill named for her late brother, has touted its success as a key part of her campaign to win a full term in his Senate seat. Graham is a fierce Trump ally, as his endorsement was critical in her GOP primary win.

Asked about the president’s decision during a campaign event, Graham did say she disagreed, though added, “It’s up to him whether he chooses to use” the sanctions bill.

“Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia to end the war and get the gas prices down, because I don’t trust Putin and I don’t trust Russia,” Graham said.

The senator added that she plans to speak to the president about it, though repeated that she and Trump “share the same goal.”

Zelenskyy thanked both Democrats and Republicans who supported the legislation, and praised the late Graham for his prolonged vocal support for Ukraine.

“He always supported us very strongly and pushed for as much assistance to Ukraine as possible. It’s difficult without him, I’ll say frankly,” Zelenskyy said. “And I am grateful to his friends who supported him.”

Trump’s move to pause the sanctions comes as the price of diesel fuel has shot up almost 70% since the war in Iran began in February and comes less than three weeks before the midterm elections, as cost of living remains a top issue for voters.

Congress passed the legislation with strong majorities in both the House and Senate, though many Democrats opposed the bill because it granted the president new tariff powers.

The legislation states that before the administration waives the new sanctions, it must submit an unclassified report to Congress explaining its basis. In his executive order, Trump said the White House has sent the report to Capitol Hill.