KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticised the easing of restrictions on Russian oil exports, warning that renewed sales would directly finance Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, Zelensky said that “every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war”, arguing that revenues generated from such transactions were being channelled into continued military strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
His remarks came after the administration of US President Donald Trump approved a one-month sanctions waiver permitting the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded onto vessels. The decision, announced on Friday, is aimed at easing rising global energy prices triggered by instability linked to the Middle East conflict.
According to Zelensky, more than 110 tankers carrying Russian crude—reportedly in violation of existing international sanctions—are currently at sea, transporting over 12 million tonnes of oil. He warned that the temporary relaxation of restrictions would allow these shipments to be sold “without consequences”.
“That is around $10 billion—a resource that is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine,” he said, underlining the financial scale of the issue.
The Ukrainian leader also highlighted the intensity of recent Russian attacks, stating that over the past week alone, Moscow had launched more than 2,360 attack drones, 1,320 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 60 missiles targeting Ukrainian territory. In one such assault overnight, a 16-year-old boy was killed and four others injured in the northern city of Chernihiv, according to local officials.
Zelensky stressed the need for stricter enforcement, calling for Russian tankers to be blocked from delivering oil to international ports. “The aggressor’s oil exports must decrease,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s long-range sanctions strategy should continue to be strengthened.
The sanctions waiver issued by the US Treasury allows the purchase of Russian oil loaded before Friday to continue until 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on May 16. This extends a previous exemption that had expired on April 11, despite earlier indications from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that such relief would not be prolonged.
The move reflects Washington’s efforts to stabilise petrol prices domestically ahead of key midterm elections. However, it has drawn sharp criticism from leading Democratic lawmakers.
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren described the decision as “shameful”, calling it a complete reversal of earlier commitments. In a joint statement, they argued that the policy shift effectively benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Russia’s oil revenues had nearly doubled in March amid global tensions.
Zelensky’s comments also come against the backdrop of a complicated relationship with Trump, whose administration has simultaneously pressed Kyiv to engage in negotiations to end the conflict, now in its fifth year since Russia’s invasion.
While Ukraine remains heavily reliant on US support for its defence, Kyiv has repeatedly warned that any easing of economic pressure on Moscow risks prolonging the war and increasing the scale of destruction.
