KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in defense of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.
The White House decision has further raised fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow's escalating assaults with winter approaching.
Russian attacks overnight killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, officials said. Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow's airports, according to Russian authorities.
In a statement on social media, Zelenskyy described Trump's move to put sanctions on hold as unfortunate, but did not directly criticize the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days.
“A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy wrote.
He separately thanked Democrats and Republicans who backed the legislation. He said blocking it would encourage Russia to continue killing, and limiting Ukraine’s ability to retaliate against Russian attacks would not bring peace.
“Nevertheless, we very much hope — and I personally hope — that the president of the United States of America will do everything possible to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin stop the killing, stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, and end this war,” he said.
Asked about contacts with Washington, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with U.S. presidential envoy Jared Kushner, who is also Trump's son-in-law, on Friday. He said that the U.S. was working to arrange a trilateral meeting with both him and Putin. He said it could take place in the Middle East, Europe or the U.S.
Critics say Trump's decision helps Putin
Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling Russia's 4 1/2-year-old war against Ukraine. The bill had sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.
Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. Trump told Congress that the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, criticized Trump's move, saying the president turning his back on “the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.”
“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal said.
Trump's unexpected decision comes a week after he had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine. Republicans and Democrats alike say the purchase will help Russia execute its war against Ukraine — without making a difference to global fuel prices, which are elevated mostly due to Trump's war on Iran.
Starlink restrictions are planned, Zelenskyy says
Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was investigating sudden speed restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, which is the backbone of Ukraine's drone operations and communication.
The restrictions, imposed without warning early Thursday, cut the internet data connection when a communication terminal moves faster than 160 kph (100 mph). The cap forced Ukrainian drones to fly slower than usual, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them.
Zelenskyy said that there were no similar restrictions in European Union countries and apply only to Ukraine. "In other words, this is a planned operation,” he said.
It was unclear who was responsible. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said this week that the U.S. government owns and controls the system, with decisions about its use resting with the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president. The Pentagon has not answered questions from The Associated Press sbout the restrictions.
Trump told reporters Friday that he did not order restrictions on the system. He also doubted that the disruption came from Musk.
“Well, I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said. “And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.”
Kyiv says Moscow carried out a ‘massive’ energy strike
Moscow carried out a massive strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, targeting more than 15 sites across the country, Zelenskyy said.
“The sheer scale and unrelenting pace of Russia’s strikes, specifically against our energy sector, are unfortunately having severe consequences,” he said.
Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted all four of Russia's cruise missiles and most of 332 attack drones it fired overnight.
Russia's heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine's appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for more attacks in the coming months.
Russian attacks killed three people in the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, Vadym Liakh, head of the city military administration, said Saturday. A Russian strike also killed an ambulance driver in Ukraine’s Kherson region, head of the local military administration Yaroslav Shanko said. The strike, which used guided bombs, wounded at least 33 others, he said.
Ukrainian drones kill 1, ground hundreds of flights at Moscow airports
A Russian woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod, local officials said.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Saturday that its forces shot down 610 Ukrainian drones overnight over 15 Russian regions, as well as the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the Black Sea.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 100 drones were shot down en route to the capital. More than 350 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow airports, local media reported, as planes were grounded in response to incoming drones.
The Kremlin announced Saturday that Putin approved a government program to help restore trade and logistics facilities damaged in drone attacks.
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Davies reported from Manchester, England.
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