Donald Trump on Friday evening exempted Russia from major new sanctions provided for in a law recently adopted by Congress, inflicting a new snub on Ukraine which fears being abandoned by its American ally. Upset by the Republican leader's recent announcements favorable to Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not hide his feeling "betrayed" and turned to his European allies, asking them for an additional 70 billion dollars to deal with the Russian invasion.
At the risk of accentuating this crisis, Donald Trump dealt a blow to a text with great symbolic significance: the Graham Act, which constituted the first major action by Congress against Moscow since its return to power, while leaving it great latitude for its application. “I exempt the application of such sanctions, restrictions and customs duties provided for in the Graham Act”, stipulates a decree published by the White House, invoking “the national interest of the United States”.
“Encourage him to continue attacking”
“The suspension of the Graham Act by the Trump administration is an important and truly historic moment,” Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin advisor for international economic cooperation, said on social media, a few hours after the American president signed the decree.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that exemption from these major sanctions “rewards” and “encourages” Vladimir Putin. “A pause in US sanctions, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all this only encourages him to continue attacking,” Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media, calling on allies to maintain pressure on Russia.
This new legislative arsenal, promulgated in mid-September by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, targeted the Russian energy sector in particular. It theoretically targets Russia's ghost fleet for the first time, and also targets President Vladimir Putin, as well as other senior Russian officials. In particular, it gives Donald Trump the power to impose customs duties of up to 100% on the five main countries importing Russian gas and oil, including China and India.
“Push Russia to make peace”
The law bears the name of its main promoter, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, fierce defender of Ukraine and slayer of Russia and Iran. It was strongly supported by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who welcomed during its promulgation “an extremely powerful tool capable of putting an end to this terrorist war and pushing Russia to make peace”.
But the already difficult relations between the American and Ukrainian presidents have since entered a new crisis. Donald Trump announced in early October that he had reached an agreement with Vladimir Putin, consisting of lifting sanctions to allow the United States to import large quantities of Russian diesel.
Since then, kyiv has deplored not having been warned by its allies of imminent Russian attacks, notably announcing restrictions on the use of satellite services from Elon Musk's company, SpaceX. Ukraine depends on Western, and particularly American, military intelligence to anticipate and counter Russian attacks, all the more crucial for its army as it faces shortages of interceptor missiles.
“We need at least 70 billion euros”
Meeting on Friday in Brussels, the leaders of the European Union assured Volodymyr Zelensky of their support, without ignoring that they would have to hand over the portfolio next year, a politically sensitive subject in several European countries including France. “The war will cost 155 billion euros next year. And we need at least 70 billion euros more from you,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “Ukraine has made its request, it is too early to articulate a figure,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, while insisting that the Europeans “will not let go” of kyiv.
After four and a half years of large-scale invasion, Ukraine is facing an intensification of Russian bombings, which left at least one person dead during the night from Friday to Saturday in Kherson (south), and fears a difficult winter. In response, its army increased long-range strikes, with Russian authorities still reporting dozens of drones shot down as they headed towards Moscow.
Donald Trump, faced with American discontent over energy prices in the run-up to the mid-term elections, does not hide his anger at the Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries, which resumed after several days of pause. Avoiding any direct criticism, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in Brussels that his team was “in talks” with American negotiators, mentioning a possible meeting in the coming days.
