US easing of Russia oil sanctions wrong call: Zelenskiy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the US’s 30-day exemption from Russian oil sanctions during the Iran war was “not the right decision” and would not help stop Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, which has been going on for more than four years.
“This relaxation by the United States alone could provide Russia with about US$10 billion ($14 billion) for the war,” Zelenskiy said at a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Paris. he said.
“This is absolutely not conducive to peace.
“I believe that the removal of sanctions will in any case strengthen Russia’s position. It spends the money it earns from energy sales on weapons, and all this is then used against us.
“So lifting sanctions to get more drones flying at you is not, in my opinion, the right decision.”
The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday that it had granted a 30-day exemption to oil sanctions imposed on Russia. This step aims to release Russian cargoes stranded at sea and alleviate the supply shortage caused by the Iran war.
Analysts say rising oil prices due to production blockages in the Persian Gulf have benefited the Russian economy. Moscow relied heavily on oil revenue to finance its invasion, and sanctions were a growing obstacle.
US-brokered talks between Moscow and Kiev aimed at stopping Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II have been suspended due to the Iran war but could resume next week, according to Zelenskiy.
Macron noted that despite the US’s temporary exemption, broad sanctions against Russia are still valid.
Macron said the exemptions announced by the US in recent days were “limited” and “taken as exceptions”.
“This does not generally or permanently reverse the sanctions that they themselves have decided to impose,” he added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz adopted a more critical stance. Heads of state and government from seven industrialized democracies discussed Russian oil and liquefied natural gas supplies with US President Donald Trump at their meeting earlier this week, he said on Friday.
“The six members of the G7 expressed a very clear view that this (waiving Russian sanctions) is not the right signal to give,” Merz said during his visit to Norway. he said.
“This morning we learned that the US government apparently decided otherwise. We believe once again that this was the wrong decision.”
Merz added: “There is currently a price problem, but not a supply problem. In this context, I would be interested to know what additional motivations led the US government to make this decision.”
Ukraine has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of drone interceptors, and Kiev is offering its expertise to the United States and its Gulf partners for the war in the Middle East, hoping to get it in return for high-end weapons it cannot produce at home.
However, Trump rejected Ukraine’s offer of aid to the United States in statements published on Friday.
“No, we don’t need their help with drone defense,” Trump told Fox News Radio.
Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukraine was awaiting approval from the White House for a deal to produce battle-tested unmanned aerial vehicles.
He said in Paris that Kiev had received a request for drone warfare assistance from Washington. The reason for the discrepancy between the leaders’ comments was not immediately clear.
Zelenskiy said that Ukraine received requests for help regarding drones from six countries. He said that he had already sent expert teams to three countries without naming them.
Zelenskiy stated that providing interceptors is not enough to combat drone attacks. He said the Ukrainian military has expertise in deploying the systems.
Zelenskiy said, “There needs to be a proper and systematic study of radars and the entire air defense system.” he said.
“Ukraine is ready to share this experience for the sake of the security of partners who help us.”
