Just two days before the package of sanctions against Russia was due to come into force, Trump has suspended it, much to Moscow’s satisfaction. The package, which the late Lindsey Graham had championed, had received cross-party support, and Trump is now facing criticism from his own supporters.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the country’s latest package of sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin has called it ‘historic’.
The statement comes from Kirill Dmitriev, a prominent adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s executive order suspended a number of sanctions, restrictions and tariffs targeting Russia’s energy and defence sectors just two days before they were due to come into force.
These had been adopted by a cross-party majority in Congress in September.
NTB reports:
Trump’s latest U-turn reinforces the theory that the US president is increasingly supporting Moscow, almost five years into Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The war has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions to flee.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that he feels ‘betrayed’ by Trump as a result of the US’s recent diesel deal with Russia.
There are other possible interpretations. Trump sees that the parties are war-weary and he wishes to bring about at least a ceasefire. He is attempting to kill several birds with one stone by entering into a diesel deal with Moscow that could ease the pressure on the world market.
Putin, who said on Friday that Moscow intends to conquer the rest of eastern Ukraine, has so far not commented on Trump’s decision.
Europeans view Trump’s change of course as a betrayal, but have little to offer in return.
Zelenskyy is asking for billions more from the EU, with little prospect of receiving it.
– The war will cost 155 billion euros next year. We need at least 70 billion more from you – for defence, for weapons and for our resilience,” Zelenskyy is reported to have told EU leaders at a closed-door meeting during the EU summit, according to Politico.
“This is a realistic figure. I ask you to find this support. It will help us hold Russia back,” he is reported to have said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed at a press conference on Friday evening that there is a shortfall of 70 billion euros to cover Ukraine’s needs.
The summit has now tasked the Commission with finding a way to fill this shortfall.
“As long as the war continues, Ukraine’s financial needs will continue,” says von der Leyen.
The war appears to be a bottomless pit, and support for Ukraine is not what it used to be. There is quite simply not enough money.
