“This is just the first step”: Zelenskyy reacted to the blocking of “hellish sanctions” against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to US President Donald Trump’s decision not to impose restrictions on Russia under Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill. He believes that easing sanctions could give Vladimir Putin a sense of support and will not help end the war.

He said this during a press conference.

Responding to a journalist’s question about easing restrictions on Russia, Zelensky suggested that this process could continue. He called the possible easing of restrictions on Russian energy resources the first step.

“Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue. I believe that the diesel deal is the first step. Unfortunately. It seems to me that this way you cannot stop Putin, but on the contrary – he feels joy, happiness that he has such support,” the president said.

At the same time, Zelensky expressed hope that Trump would do everything possible to ensure that Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and ends the war.

The President stressed that Ukraine should not be limited in its response to Russian attacks that kill Ukrainians. He said that lifting sanctions against Russia should not be used as a tool to stop Ukrainian resistance.

“And yet, we really hope, and I personally do, that the President of the United States of America will do everything to ensure that Putin stops the attacks on our energy sector, stops this war. But once again: you can’t limit Ukraine’s responses to Russia for killing our people. And even more so, lift the sanctions,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin’s representative Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s decision not to impose restrictions against Russia under the “Graham Act” a historic moment.

He said sanctions could harm economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington and affect global markets. Instead, Dmitriev advocated negotiations, mutually beneficial cooperation and shared responsibility for global stability. He also said that economic ties between the United States and Russia were in the interests of both countries.