U.S. President Donald Trump’s easing of sanctions on Russia has proved controversial — in Ukraine and in America.
Trump: Ukraine Gave Us Nothing
President Donald Trump greets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Friday, February 28, 2025, in the West Wing Lobby. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
President Donald Trump greets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Friday, February 28, 2025, in the West Wing Lobby. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” Trump told reporters on October 19, according to The New York Times. “They haven’t been doing much.”
Of Ukraine, he said: “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. They’ve given nothing to us. Remember that.”
Trump also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with American envoys in Norway on Tuesday, of being someone who “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”
Russian attacks have continued.
The Associated Press reported that seven people were killed in Ukraine on Tuesday, with power outages impacting 12 regions.
Diesel, Sanctions and an Oil Deal
Trump’s October 16 executive order waived sanctions and tariffs under legislation he signed September 18, invoking congressional waiver authority.
Trump said he had “submitted to Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the decision: “Enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing US efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.”
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis asked: “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” A bipartisan House group pointed to “an opportunity to reinvigorate peace efforts by placing maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin and the governments and networks that finance his war.”
Defending the diesel deal, Trump wrote that he did not “want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table. Great progress is being made.”
Reuters reported, citing the Times, that a proposed multibillion-dollar transaction involves Lukoil oil fields, refineries and gas stations abroad.
Washington and the Kremlin have not yet approved the transaction.
Military Support Becomes a Flash Point
At an EU summit on October 16, Zelenskyy said: “But it will put more money straight into Putin’s pocket to fund this war.”
Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether Ukraine could survive without American military and intelligence support, he said: “Of course, in all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have a low chance — low chance to survive without support of the United States,” the Times reported.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on Tuesday, telling reporters that he believed, “the important takeaway is that there has not been some deliberate political directive to go out and harm Ukraine.”
“Nothing is being deliberately denied to Ukraine,” Rubio went on.
He also said that interceptors purchased by NATO allies might not have arrived.
Separately, Reuters alleged that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not yet authorized the recent weapons package.
As regards satellite restrictions, Rubio said: “No change was ordered. It is not true that we restricted it.”
Zelenskyy also noted that “the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored” was among the issues raised with Rubio.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, admitted last week that “Europe can’t replace” such complex capabilities in the immediate term, thus underscoring the importance of U.S. cooperation to Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Oslo Talks To Discuss ‘Overall’ European Security
The purported purpose of these fresh talks is to steer diplomatic efforts onto a more “constructive direction,” Reuters claimed.
The Norwegian government confirmed that Steve Witkoff would attend Tuesday’s talks in person, while Jared Kushner would join remotely alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and, of course, Zelenskyy.
The Finnish presidency said discussions “will cover Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the overall security situation in Europe.”
Kallas said “Ukraine wants peace more than anybody because they have been under this bombardment,” adding: “The only one who doesn’t want peace is Russia,” AP reported.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev argued that “Economic cooperation between Russia and the United States serves the interests of both countries.”
Trump Looks Like He Swapped Ukraine for Russia
Former diplomat Richard Haass described the broader shift to the Times: “The reason it’s hard to think of a precedent of America switching sides in a conflict like this is that there really isn’t one.”
“What’s unprecedented here is the decision to reverse course and penalize the victim of the invasion – Ukraine – while rewarding the aggressor.”
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
