Zelenskyy says Russia targets energy sites as Trump waives sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that Russia is stepping up attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure to cut electricity and heating to civilians ahead of winter, DW and msnbc.com reported. According to msnbc.com, Zelenskyy said Russian forces hit more than 15 energy sites. DW reported that Moscow is intensifying strikes on civilian targets in Kyiv and elsewhere to make the country virtually unlivable. [1][2]

The remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving a package of sanctions targeting Russia, msnbc.com, France 24, and thejournal.ie reported. According to France 24 and thejournal.ie, the waiver eases restrictions on Russian energy revenues. Thejournal.ie reported that Trump took the step while grappling with an oil crisis linked to the war in Iran. [2][6][7]

Zelenskyy called the US sanctions waiver a boost for Russian President Vladimir Putin, DW reported. According to msnbc.com and The Independent, the Ukrainian leader urged supporters to speak out in defense of the US sanctions package. [1][2][5]

The developments follow recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian regions that triggered power outages, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, initiating the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. The fighting has caused hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties. [13][16]