President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that a recent US decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil exports could generate about $10 billion for Moscow’s war effort.
Zelensky made the remarks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, saying the move risks strengthening Russia rather than helping bring peace.
“Only this one easing from America could give Russia about $10 billion for the war,” Zelensky said. “This definitely does not help peace.”
He added that the funds could be used to finance weapons production, particularly drones used in attacks against Ukraine.
“We hear signals that this is meant to stabilize the situation, but in my opinion the logic is different – Russia will spend this money on weapons, on drones in particular, which massively strike Ukrainians,” Zelensky said.
According to the Ukrainian president, the same types of drones are also used in attacks across the Middle East and against Western military positions in the region.
“So lifting sanctions in order to have more drones flying at you later, in my opinion, is not the right decision,” he said.
Temporary sanctions waiver
The United States allowed transactions involving Russian oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels before March 12, temporarily exempting them from sanctions until April 11.
The license authorizing such transactions was published overnight on Friday, March 13, by the US Treasury Department.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump approved the measure to help stabilize global energy markets and maintain lower prices amid the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.