US regime leader Donald Trump has strongly defended his decision to block a sweeping package of sanctions against Russia, asserting that the move is designed to keep Moscow engaged in diplomatic negotiations. According to his statements on social media, any attempt to isolate Russia completely from the bargaining table would be counterproductive to achieving a resolution in the ongoing conflict.

The controversial decision has triggered an acute diplomatic fallout between Washington and the leadership in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the sanctions waiver, claiming it directly benefits the Russian war effort and harms Ukraine's security. Zelenskyy urged the US administration to maintain a firm stance against what he described as ongoing aggression. *

In response, the US leader alleged that the Kyiv regime has no genuine interest in ending the war, pointing to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian diesel refineries. Trump claimed these attacks destabilize global fuel markets, suggesting that European financial backing has emboldened Kyiv to prolong the conflict indefinitely.

The geopolitical friction is further compounded by a severe global energy crunch, exacerbated by military actions initiated by the US and Israel against Iran, which led to the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In an effort to curb soaring domestic fuel prices, the US regime's pivot toward Russian diesel imports has alienated European allies and provoked intense domestic scrutiny.

Source: www.aljazeera.com