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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) \u2014 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in defense of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.<\/p>\n
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The White House decision has further raised fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow\u2019s escalating assaults with winter approaching.<\/p>\n
Russian attacks overnight killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, officials said.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow\u2019s airports, according to Russian authorities.<\/p>\n
In a statement on social media, Zelenskyy described Trump\u2019s move to put sanctions on hold as unfortunate, but did not directly criticize the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days.<\/p>\n
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\u201cA 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,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote.<\/p>\n
Later, in audio clips answering journalists\u2019 questions, Zelenskyy thanked Democrats and Republicans who backed the legislation and praised its bipartisan support. He said blocking it would encourage Russia to continue killing and do nothing to bring the war to an end.<\/p>\n
He also added that limiting Ukraine\u2019s ability to retaliate against Russian attacks would not bring peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevertheless, we very much hope \u2014 and I personally hope \u2014 that the president of the United States of America will do everything possible to make Putin stop the killing, stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, and end this war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling Russia\u2019s 4 1\/2-year-old war against Ukraine. The bill had sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.<\/p>\n
Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation.<\/p>\n
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The president told Congress that the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details.<\/p>\n
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, said in a statement that Trump was turning his back on \u201cthe majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,\u201d Blumenthal said.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia.<\/p>\n
Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons \u201cimmediately thereafter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision has been pilloried by Republicans and Democrats alike who say it will help Russia execute its war against Ukraine \u2014 without making a difference to global fuel prices, which are elevated mostly due to Trump\u2019s war on Iran.<\/p>\n
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