Zelensky declares war with Russia must end, Ukraine gears up for diplomatic moves
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told followers on social media that the conflict with Russia “must be brought to an end” and that Kyiv is preparing the “next steps” in diplomacy to achieve peace. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that temporarily lifted sanctions on Russia’s energy sector.
In a Sunday post, Zelensky said he had spoken with two members of the Trump administration, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, noting that “a lot depends on the U.S. position” but that many issues matter to both sides.
The Trump administration had already eased restrictions on Russian fuel imports on Oct. 9, allowing more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to flow to U.S. and global markets in an effort to curb soaring fuel prices. The Treasury’s temporary authorization sparked criticism that the move could give Moscow additional revenue to fund its war. Trump also denounced recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities as “a disgrace.”
Zelensky said his team remains in “virtually nonstop communication” with their American counterparts, focusing on the outcomes of talks in Florida and on further steps. He expressed gratitude that the United States had resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine after a pause that left Kyiv vulnerable to Russia’s ballistic missile strikes. “It was blocked for some period of time, and then it was unblocked by the American side,” he told NBC, adding that only the United States possesses the unique capability to alert Ukraine when Russia launches ballistic missiles.
Kyiv also reported that the speed of Starshield – a military‑grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network – has been limited, hampering the ability to track Russia’s upgraded long‑range drones. Elon Musk said any restrictions on Starshield are the responsibility of the U.S. government, a claim the White House quickly rejected. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Zelensky “very reckless” for accusing Washington of throttling the service.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine is currently blocked from Starshield, and that a Kyiv request to use the system for deep strikes inside Russia is “under discussion.”
Trump’s decision to waive parts of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has drawn bipartisan criticism. He signed the act in September in honor of the late Senator Graham, a close ally. The penalties were set to take effect on Sunday, but Trump signaled over the weekend that he had not yet made a final decision. “My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”
Rubio indicated that Trump wants up to 60 days to assess the economic impact of the sanctions waiver, while Zelensky warned that the move could embolden President Vladimir Putin and lengthen the conflict. Rubio defended the diesel deal, saying the fuel will be sold one way or another and that the United States must protect its own interests. Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed that view, calling the arrangement a “carrot to try to end the war, not an economic lifeline” for Russia and suggesting that additional Russian diesel exports could benefit American consumers while applying pressure for peace.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks continued. Ukrainian media reported that strikes in the western Volyn region near the Polish border killed two people and injured at least five elsewhere in the country. Overnight raids in the Zaporizhzhia region killed a woman and wounded a six‑year‑old child. In the early hours of Sunday, Ukraine launched a large drone assault on St Petersburg, targeting a major oil refinery, a depot and a warehouse belonging to the Russian online retailer Ozon.