Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Donald Trump’s decision to roll back sanctions on Russia as a “reward” for Vladimir Putin and warned it will embolden the Russian leader and intensify the Kremlin’s war, as Moscow launched one of its worst strikes yet on Ukraine’s power plants in an attempt to black out the country’s cities before winter.
The Ukrainian president also said he expected the Trump administration to lift more sanctions against Russia in the future and called for Europe to establish its own negotiations with Moscow as the US has sought better ties and business deals with the Kremlin.
“Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue, and I believe that the ‘diesel deal’ is the first step,” said Zelenskyy on Saturday. “Unfortunately, it seems to me that this cannot stop Putin; on the contrary, he feels joy and happiness that he has such support.”
In a social media message earlier, Zelenskyy wrote: “A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground.
“We must keep trying to end the war. To end it, not give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely.” » | Andrew Roth in Kyiv | Saturday, October 17, 2026
Donald Trump is a turncoat and a traitor. He is turning his back on his western allies to cosy up to Vlad, his ‘bromantic’ chum and marionettist. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by contrast, is a patriotic, determined, and noble warrior for his country. He knows the enemy well and behaves and plans strategically and wisely using this knowledge. It should not be overlooked that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his brave and long-suffering compatriots are fighting not only for the continued existence of their own country, but also for the continued existence of Europe as a whole, too. He knows that if Ukraine were to fall to the enemy, another European nation will be next on the line. Other European nations will then be in grave danger of falling, one by one, until Putin has satisfied and achieved his goals and objectives. Our support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians must continue to be unwavering. Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!) — © Mark Alexander
