Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged support for proposed US sanctions against Russia after Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions aimed at Moscow’s economy.
The Ukrainian president described the decision as unfortunate, while stopping short of directly criticising the US leader amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The move has also heightened fears that Ukraine could be left more exposed to Russian attacks as winter approaches.
“A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Mr Zelenskiy wrote on social media on Saturday.
He said the legislation could still be revived, adding: “This act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.”
Mr Zelenskiy’s comments came after what he described as a massive Russian assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with more than 15 sites targeted across the country.
“The sheer scale and unrelenting pace of Russia’s strikes, specifically against our energy sector, are unfortunately having severe consequences,” he said.
Ukraine’s air force said Russian forces had launched four cruise missiles and 332 attack drones overnight. It said all four missiles and 289 of the drones had been suppressed or destroyed.
Russia’s heavy bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid before winter has become an annual feature of the war, aimed at undermining the population’s ability to continue the fight by cutting off heat and running water.
Ukrainian officials have also warned that Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for further attacks in the coming months.
