Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (April 19, 2026) condemned the easing of sanctions on Russian oil after the United States extended a waiver meant to soften surging energy prices driven by the West Asia war.
"Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war", and the billions of dollars involved are used for devastating strikes on Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
He did not mention the United States, but President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea.
The action was intended to bring down soaring energy prices. But the U.S. Treasury Department extension came two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waiver.
Mr. Zelenskyy said there were more than 110 tankers carrying Russian oil in breach of international sanctions currently at sea, carrying more than 12 million tonnes of crude, which, due to the easing of sanctions, can once again be sold without consequences.
