US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to delay economic sanctions against Russia in order to preserve ongoing peace negotiations, stating that talks are making “great progress.”
In a recent Truth Social post, Trump emphasized that his priority is securing a settlement rather than actions that might drive Moscow away from the bargaining table. He noted that “great progress is being made,” including in hostage negotiations.
Trump’s administration has recently waived penalties previously pushed by late Senator Lindsey Graham, known as the “sanctions from hell,” and eased restrictions on Russian diesel exports to address global fuel prices.
The president also accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of resisting a peaceful resolution despite extensive Western financial support. He further criticized Ukraine’s military leadership for its continued attacks on Russian refineries, which disrupt global diesel markets.
Moscow welcomed Washington’s diplomatic efforts, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Russia appreciates the American side’s mediation and peacemaking. However, he added that a final settlement is impossible without someone from Kiev prepared to take responsibility.
Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev noted that Trump’s remarks exposed Zelensky’s “true hidden motivation,” suggesting the Ukrainian leader “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”
At an EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky sought additional €70 billion for next year’s military operations beyond the existing €90 billion allocated by the bloc. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis ruled out further financial commitments, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the European Commission would examine new funding options.
