Trump Defends Sanctions Waiver, Accuses Zelenskyy of Prolonging War
Source reports published 18 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 19 Oct 2026, 10:26 am AEST
Donald Trump defended his decision to waive sanctions on Russia, claiming it was necessary for peace negotiations and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of obstructing efforts to end the war. The move sparked a diplomatic rift between the two leaders.
What happened
- Donald Trump defended his decision to waive sanctions on Russia, stating his aim was to maintain dialogue with Moscow for peace negotiations.
- He accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war, citing concerns about Kyiv’s targeting of Russian refineries to impact the US Republican Party ahead of the November elections.
- Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions related to the Lindsey Graham-named legislation, and temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, allowing it to enter global markets to address rising fuel prices.
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX reportedly limited Starlink speeds to Ukraine, hindering drone operations and air defense, a move Trump attributed to a ‘message’ from the US government.
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s envoys, were reportedly communicating with Zelenskyy as part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to secure a resolution.
- Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, following the breakdown of Trump’s short-lived ‘energy ceasefire.’
- Vladimir Putin proposed a meeting with Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war, excluding Zelenskyy.
Original reporting
- Guardian: Zelenskyy thanks Trump for resumed intelligence sharing after US Starlink ‘message’
2026-10-18T00:00:00+00:00 - France 24 English: Trump defends Russia sanctions relief, blasts Zelensky on peace
2026-10-18T21:59:34+00:00 - Al Jazeera: Trump defends Russian sanctions relief, lashes out at Zelenskyy
2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00 - Deutsche Welle: Trump accuses Zelenskyy of 'prolonging war'
2026-10-19T00:26:26.196000+00:00