Trump suspends Russia sanctions as deadly attacks plunge Ukraine into darkness

By Stefan Bos

U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended sweeping new sanctions against Russia, citing American national interests, as Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least eight people in Ukraine and left more than a million without electricity.

The decision has raised concerns over Washington’s approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and highlighted growing differences between the United States and the European Union over how to end the war.

Trump waived key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs just days before they were due to take effect under legislation he signed last month.

The measures included penalties against countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas, intended to increase economic pressure on Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "AudioObject","@id": "https://media.vaticannews.va/media2/audio/s1/2026/10/17/17/139320167_F139320167.mp3","name": "Audio","description": "Audio","uploadDate" : "2026-10-17T17:28:20.580+02:00","thumbnailUrl" : "https://www.vaticannews.va/etc/designs/vatican-news/release/library/main/images/audio-overlay.250.141.png"} Zelenskyy criticizes sanctions relief

The U.S. president cited American national interests amid rising energy prices. His decision followed a controversial agreement allowing more Russian diesel onto global markets, a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned would help finance Moscow’s military campaign.

Speaking about the impact on ordinary Ukrainians, Zelenskyy said the additional Russian diesel would do little to reduce fuel prices in the United States but would provide Russia with more money to continue its attacks.

He recalled how Ukrainian children had spent nearly five years growing up amid air raid warnings, seeking shelter underground or attending classes online.

“They didn’t have childhood because of one person, because Putin,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It’s a mistake. I’m sure this diesel will not help Americans but will help Putin,” he added.

Russian attacks kill civilians

His remarks came as Russian forces continued launching missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

At least eight people were reportedly killed and 60 others injured in Friday’s attacks, while more than one million people lost electricity. Ukrainian authorities said repair crews subsequently restored power to more than a million people.

The destruction has renewed concerns about the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s energy network, particularly for families, elderly residents and vulnerable communities facing the coming winter.

Against this backdrop, European Union leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and expressed regret over Washington’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel.

EU pledges military aid

EU leaders welcomed a new package of sanctions against Moscow and an agreement to release another 6.6 billion euros, approximately $7.5 billion, in military assistance through the European Peace Facility.

However, they stopped short of approving Zelenskyy’s request for an additional 70 billion euros in financial and military assistance for 2027, instead calling for further assessments of Ukraine’s funding needs.

The developments underscored growing differences between Washington and Brussels over the economic pressure needed to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its fifth anniversary in February, Ukraine faces mounting civilian casualties, widespread infrastructure damage and uncertainty over the global support needed to sustain its defense and secure a lasting peace.