Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's leader, condemned the U.S. decision to extend the waiver on sanctions against Russian oil, noting that funds from these oil sales will be used to attack Ukraine.
On 19 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, denounced the U.S. government's decision to prolong Russia's ability to sell oil despite Western sanctions, amid an energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict.
This move means countries can continue to purchase Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on ships at sea until 16 May.
The U.S. explained that this waiver aims to alleviate the energy shortage crisis triggered by the war between the U.S.-Israel coalition and Iran.
However, in a statement last Sunday, Zelensky said, “Every dollar paid for Russian oil is funding the war in Ukraine,” noting that Russia has been widely sanctioned since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Ukrainian leader said Russia has more than 110 oil tankers in the “Shadow Fleet,” vessels with unclear ownership used to evade sanctions, carrying over 12 million tons of oil.
Zelensky added that these oil sales bring Moscow about 10 billion dollars in revenue, which he described as “resources that will be turned into new attacks directly against Ukraine.” However, he did not explain the source of this figure.
The intense U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which began on 28 February, prompted Iranian retaliation not only against Israel and U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf but also targeting energy infrastructure and civilian sites in Arab nations allied with the U.S.
Moreover, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is transported, causing turmoil in energy markets amid fears of a global recession if the route remains closed for long.
This situation led the U.S. to ease sanctions on Russian oil on 13 March, a decision heavily criticized by Zelensky and European allies.
In the waiver extension announced last Friday, the U.S. stated it aims to “ensure sufficient oil supply for those in need” while negotiations to end the war are being accelerated.
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Source:bbc