US President Donald Trump has linked his latest move on Moscow to Trump Russia peace talks, saying he suspended several sanctions on Russia so negotiations over the war with Ukraine do not collapse. The measures were blocked two days before they were due to take effect.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he is “in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine.” He said he did not want to “do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.”
Why the sanctions were paused
Trump framed the suspension as a bargaining choice rather than a final settlement. In the same posts he accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting the war to end, claiming Zelensky “doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did,” and that Ukraine “could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now.”
Those claims sit against Kyiv’s public line since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022: Zelensky has pushed for an end to fighting and has repeatedly said Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace.
Kyiv and Moscow react
Zelensky, in a Sunday interview, said siding with Putin would be a “historic mistake.” The warning came as friction with Washington deepened.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s order “an important and truly historic moment.” He argued the sanctions would have inflicted “serious damage” on the US and the global market.
Strain between Washington and Kyiv
Relations have frayed after the United States struck a controversial deal last week to import Russian diesel. Ukraine has accused the Trump administration of withdrawing key military support.
Public barbs have also grown sharper. After Trump said Zelensky was “more difficult to deal with” than Putin, Zelensky told a European Union summit it was nice to be among “real leaders.” How far Trump Russia peace talks can go while Kyiv and Washington disagree remains unsettled; neither side has announced a finished peace deal.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- February 2022: Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine; Zelensky later argues Putin does not want peace.
- About two years before Trump’s latest remarks: Trump claims Ukraine could have secured a better deal then than now.
- Last week: Washington agrees a controversial Russian diesel import deal; Ukraine says key US military support has been pulled back.
- Two days before sanctions were due: Trump blocks numerous Russia sanctions from taking effect.
- Sunday: Zelensky says aligning with Putin would be a “historic mistake,” as the row with Trump deepens.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Trump ne Russia par kuch sanctions rok diye hain taake aman ki baat cheet jari rahe. Woh kehta hai ke warna Russia negotiation se door ho sakta hai. Ukraine ka kehna hai ke Putin ke saath khara hona galti hogi. Abhi koi mukammal aman deal announce nahi hui—baat abhi chal rahi hai.
