Moscow/Berlin/The Kremlin’s emissary, Kiril Dmitriev, described this Saturday as a “historic moment” the decision of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to suspend the application of the sanctions against Russia approved by Congress, while the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, regretted the measure, considering that it eliminates an effective tool of pressure on Moscow to end the war.
“The suspension of the Graham Law by President Trump’s Administration is important and truly a historic moment,” Dmitriev wrote on his Telegram channel.
He added that, “instead of sanctions and confrontation,” the White House had opted for “mutually beneficial cooperation and joint responsibility for global stability.”
Dmitriev declared that the White House opted for “mutually beneficial cooperation and joint responsibility for global stability”
“Economic cooperation between Russia and the United States responds to the interests of both countries, contributes to the stability of the world economy and creates conditions for strengthening trust and achieving lasting peace,” he noted.
In his opinion, the application of the law named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham “could have practically and totally stopped economic cooperation” between Moscow and Washington “and caused serious damage to the entire US economy and international markets.”
Dmitriev then assured in X that “the enemies of global security, cooperation and prosperity will be dissatisfied.”
Trump justified on Friday that he temporarily suspended sanctions against Russia because it responds to the “national interest” of the United States.
Trump, who signed the law a month ago, justified on Friday the executive order he signed to temporarily suspend the sanctions package against Russia on the grounds that it responds to the “national interest” of the United States.
In particular, the order exempts sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the Russian Government; the financial and commercial restrictions and tariffs planned for Russian products, and those from certain countries that purchase hydrocarbons from Russia.
The exemptions from the new law will remain in effect until Trump or the secretary of state, in consultation with the secretary of the Treasury and the US trade representative, determine to adopt new measures.
The exemptions from the new law will remain in effect until determined by Trump or the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the US Trade Representative.
The decision comes after Trump agreed on October 9 with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the supply of Russian diesel for international markets, with the aim of alleviating energy and fuel prices.
The agreement, harshly condemned by Ukraine and the European Union, has also sparked criticism from legislators of both parties in the United States, who question its possible effects, its compatibility with national legislation and the fact that it could contribute to financing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
For his part, Zelensky criticized the suspension of sanctions at a time when Russia intensifies its attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities.
“At a time when Russia has launched such a massive attack on our energy sector, unfortunately, the decision has been made in the United States to completely ignore the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to put truly effective pressure on Russia to end this war,” Zelensky wrote on his social networks.
“The US has made the decision to completely ignore the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to put truly effective pressure on Russia to end this war,” Zelensky wrote.
“This law could have been of great help, and still can be! But it must be truly implemented, and every voice raised in support of it is important,” Zelensky stressed.
The president apparently alluded to the decision of Gregory W. Meeks, a member of the Democratic Party on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who presented a bipartisan bill on Friday to prohibit “President Trump’s corrupt agreement with (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, to purchase and import Russian diesel,” according to a statement from the representative himself.
In Zelensky’s opinion, “it is important for everyone in the United States to see what is really happening” in Ukraine because of Russia.
Zelensky said that “Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine just before winter” and “intends to leave millions of our citizens without electricity and heat.”
The Ukrainian president said that “Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine just before winter” and “intends to leave millions of our citizens without electricity or heating.”
“Pressure is necessary to stop it. Paralyzing US sanctions, easing pressure on the aggressor and offering economic rewards to Putin only encourages him to continue attacking,” he insisted.
“We must not give ground. We must continue trying to end the war. Put an end to it, instead of giving Putin every reason to prolong it indefinitely,” emphasized Zelensky, who recalled that on Friday “Russia carried out one of the largest attacks against Ukraine’s energy sector,” as more than 15 critical electricity generation and transmission facilities were attacked in different regions of the country.
