US President Donald Trump has sparked bipartisan outrage and fierce criticism from Kyiv after signing an executive order pausing a major package of economic sanctions against Russia. The restrictions, which had been passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump in September, were blocked on Friday night just two days before they were scheduled to take effect, with the administration citing the US "national interest."
The decision coincides with a sharp diplomatic breakdown between Washington and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, driven by a controversial US deal to import Russian diesel and a reported reduction in military support and intelligence-sharing. Following the pause on sanctions, Ukrainian cities faced severe Russian airstrikes targeting power plants ahead of winter. Zelenskyy warned that rolling back the restrictions acts as a reward for Vladimir Putin that will embolden the Kremlin and intensify the war.