US 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions not right decision

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the US 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions amid the Iran war is "not the right decision" and won't help bring a stop to Russia's more than 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

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"This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about USD 10 billion for the war," Zelenskyy said. "This certainly does not help peace."

"I believe that lifting sanctions will, in any case, lead to a strengthening of Russia's position. It spends the money from energy sales on weapons, and all of this is then used against us," Zelenskyy said at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Paris.

"Therefore, ultimately lifting sanctions only so that more drones will later be flying at you is, in my opinion, not the right decision," he said.

The US Treasury Department announced Thursday a 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions.