# Trump defends Russia sanctions relief, lashes out at Zelenskyy

https://mins.news/en/item/105680

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-19 03:10 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/19/trump-defends-russian-sanctions-relief-lashes-out-at-zelenskyy?traffic_source=rss

> Trump said waiving sanctions would keep Moscow at the negotiating table and accused Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he had spoken with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about diplomacy, as Russia and Ukraine continued strikes on each other’s energy sites.

## Related coverage

- [Trump defends Russia sanctions waivers, accuses Zelenskyy of prolonging war](https://mins.news/en/item/105551) — DW, 2026-10-19
- [Trump says Russia sanctions suspension aims to keep peace talks going](https://mins.news/en/item/105486) — BBC News, 2026-10-18
- [Zelensky urges support for new US sanctions on Russia](https://mins.news/en/video/104744) — France 24 English, 2026-10-18