Trump stands by blocking Russia sanctions as Zelensky urges pressure
Trump has paused new US sanctions on Russia and defended the move as good for America, while Zelensky says it rewards Putin and urges more pressure.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
President Donald Trump has formally paused a package of new US sanctions on Russia, signing an executive order that waived measures due to take effect within days. He said the move was in the US national interest. The package was known as the Lindsey Graham Act, named after the late senator. It would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas and would have targeted Russia's shadow fleet. It had been passed by Congress and signed by Trump last month.
The decision drew a defence from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said the measures were not only sanctions on Russia but also tariffs on countries such as India. He said Trump wanted a 60-day period to analyse what sanctions and tariffs would mean for the global economy and the US economy. He pointed to pressure on energy supplies from Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and strikes on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war. A White House reporter said the administration was presenting the move as economically beneficial, but it did not answer Republican concerns that it gives Vladimir Putin an economic lifeline and could pressure Ukraine to accept terms.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the decision. He said it was wrong and helped only the Russians. He said it fuelled Russia's satisfaction and its desire to keep killing people, and that it would not stop the war. He urged US politicians to bring more pressure to bear on Russia. The Kremlin welcomed the move and called it historic. It argued that the Graham Act hindered Russian-American projects and the role both countries play in stabilising energy markets. In Congress, criticism came from both parties. Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the decision beyond irresponsible and unconscionable. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said Trump had given Putin the best birthday gift he will get this year.
The sanctions pause follows a row over diesel. Last week Trump announced that Russia would supply the US with millions of barrels of diesel. He also criticised Ukraine for attacking Russian energy targets, saying those attacks had pushed up prices. Analysts quoted in coverage said the main driver of higher diesel and petrol prices was the war with Iran, not Ukraine's strikes. The episode has deepened fears in Kyiv and among European allies that Washington is pivoting towards Moscow. Some European officials said easing pressure on Russia would reward aggression and would not solve global energy market problems.
The wider context remains bleak for Ukraine. Russian strikes have hit energy infrastructure, and the UK Defence Secretary accused Putin of using winter as a weapon. British troops are preparing for a NATO exercise in Poland next month as part of planning for a possible post-ceasefire security role in Ukraine. Zelensky has also claimed that military-grade Starlink systems are being deliberately slowed in Ukraine, with tests showing faster speeds in the EU. The White House has denied restricting the system. The row over sanctions has added to a sense in Kyiv that US support is becoming less reliable.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 6 or more of 7 channels | |||||||
| Trump paused or blocked new sanctions on Russia, citing national interest; the measures targeted energy and defence sectors, Putin and other senior officials and were due to take effect after being signed into law to pressure Moscow over the Ukraine war. | Not reported by GB News | ||||||
| Reported by a few · 2–5 channels | |||||||
| Ukraine believes its access to Starshield was restricted after a dispute with the White House. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |||
| Zelensky said the decision to disregard the sanctions would encourage Putin to keep attacking Ukraine. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | ||||
| Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced a major exercise in Poland next month involving British, German, French and Polish troops, possibly 1,500 or more, to practise moving troops and supplies and to ensure allies are ready to support military training and post-war rebuilding. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| The Lindsey Graham sanctions act would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| Trump's sanctions decision drew criticism from Zelensky, US lawmakers from both parties, and a Ukrainian MP. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |||
| Ukraine accused Trump of betrayal. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| Only on one channel | |||||||
| A double airstrike in Sumy killed one resident and injured 22 people. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A White House reporter said the pause could pressure Ukraine to accept terms. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| An overnight attack on Kharkiv injured at least 15 people, including three children. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Britain is preparing for a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached, under the coalition of the willing announced early last year, which would involve peacekeeping troops on the ground if a deal is struck. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| Critics, including Republican lawmakers, warned the waiver could give Vladimir Putin an economic lifeline. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the waivers were unrelated to US national security and amounted to appeasing Putin. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Former CIA chief David Petraeus called for increased sanctions on Russia despite Trump's suspension. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| General David Petraeus called for more international support for Ukraine. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Lawmakers from both US parties criticised the sanctions pause. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Petraeus said Russia had suffered 1.5 million killed and wounded. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| Petrol prices had risen mainly because of the war with Iran, and Trump hoped a diesel deal would bring them down before the midterms. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Rubio said the 60-day period would allow assessment of how sanctions and tariffs affect the US and global economies. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Rubio said the sanctions included tariffs on countries such as India, not just Russia. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The EU had imposed 21 or 22 rounds of sanctions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| The Kremlin welcomed Trump's decision and called it historic. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The pause on sanctions came a week after Trump announced a deal with Putin to import about a million tonnes of Russian diesel. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The sanctions package had been passed by Congress. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| The sanctions package was known as the Lindsey Graham Act. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The White House denied restricting Starlink. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Trump praised the sanctions pause as a good decision for the US. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Zelensky urged US politicians to increase pressure on Russia. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC's package framed the move as a betrayal of Ukraine and a reversal of a key US policy, with Joe Inwood tracing how Russian oil and gas revenue funds the war. It gave prominence to the Kremlin's welcome, the diesel deal and Trump's midterm calculations. The tone was explanatory and sceptical of Trump's motives.
- “Ukraine has accused Donald Trump of betrayal Russia unsurprisingly has welcomed it”
- “I believe the diesel deal is just the first step”
- “The fear from Ukraine and its allies is that it's all part of a wider US pivot towards Russia.”
Sky framed the story as a deepening US-Ukraine rift and led with Zelensky's warning that easing pressure would encourage more attacks. It added a separate UK angle on preparations for a possible peacekeeping mission and drills in Poland. The tone was urgent and security-focused.
- “The rift between Ukraine and the US is deepening”
- “Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine right before winter”
- “Financial rewards for Putin all of this only encourages him to keep attacking”
ITV linked the sanctions pause to Trump's domestic problems, including low approval ratings and high diesel prices, and to the midterm elections. It paired that with the human cost of Russian strikes and the Starlink dispute. The tone was critical and presented the move as a U-turn that helps Moscow.
- “The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me and it definitely helps only the Russians.”
- “I don't think there's anything the UK can do that is going to influence Trump because of his obsession in the short term with the fuel price.”
- “This is a deliberate attempt to harm their ability to protect their country.”
A short bulletin item that stuck to the bare facts: the timing, Trump's national interest justification, backlash from US lawmakers and Zelensky calling the decision unfortunate. It gave little context beyond the diesel row. The tone was neutral and brief.
- “Donald Trump has blocked a package of sanctions on Russia two days before they were due to take effect.”
- “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the decision unfortunate.”
- “It follows a row over the US deal to import Russian diesel.”
Channel 4 treated the decision as a betrayal and a gift to Putin, with strong bipartisan criticism and detailed scrutiny of what the sanctions package would have done. It included expert and Ukrainian MP interviews and highlighted the cost for Europe. The tone was sharply critical and analytical.
- “a betrayal says ukraine's president”
- “these waivers have nothing to do with our national security and everything to do with sucking up to vladimir putin”
- “the cost of sanctions softening is russian aggression at european expense”
GB News led with Zelensky's claim that the decision rewards and encourages Putin, then moved quickly to his allegation that Starlink is being deliberately slowed. It also covered UK troop preparations for a Poland exercise. The tone was headline-driven and less focused on congressional reaction.
- “President Zelensky says the American decision to block new sanctions on Russia will reward and encourage Vladimir Putin”
- “He says Donald Trump's suspension of the measures will fuel Russia's desire to keep killing people”
- “The White House has denied restricting the use of the satellite system”
This ITV bulletin led with fresh Russian strikes and civilian testimony before turning to Trump's sanctions pause. It stressed the midterm and diesel-price motive and the risk to Ukraine, then noted British planning for a post-ceasefire NATO role. The tone was critical of Trump and focused on human impact.
- “We just about made it out.”
- “Prioritising the midterm elections and suspending Russian sanctions, apparently in the national interest, giving way to the Moscow war machine.”
- “Even though a ceasefire right now looks like a distant possibility.”
The Wrap framed the story as a growing fracture between Washington and Kyiv, with correspondents in Kyiv and Washington. It added detail on Starlink and intelligence cooperation, and set out fierce criticism from both parties in Congress. The tone was analytical and highly critical of Trump's shift towards Putin.
- “The fracture lines between the US and Ukraine have grown”
- “Trump just gave Putin the best birthday gift He'll get this year”
- “It's not even hidden now the leaning towards President Putin it's quite open.”
BBC News gave priority to the administration's defence, quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio at length about a 60-day review and global energy pressures. It balanced that with a White House reporter's point that the move does not answer Republican concerns and could pressure Ukraine. The tone was measured and explanatory.
- “the President wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyse what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and even to the US economy.”
- “this offers Vladimir Putin exactly the type of economic lifeline that these sanctions that were championed by Lindsey Graham were intended to stop”
- “this could also be seen in a way as a way to pressure Ukraine to kind of accept terms that they might otherwise not be so willing to accept.”
This Sky News segment combined the rift analysis with a call from former CIA director David Petraeus for more sanctions and more pressure on Russia. It highlighted Russian casualty figures and the argument that the war is unsustainable for Moscow. The tone was security-focused and critical of the US pause.
- “US sanctions would really be helpful in addition to the 21 or 22 rounds of EU sanctions that have been imposed.”
- “Russia has had 1.5 million killed and wounded already in this war, which is more than the United States military has sustained in all of World War II.”
- “there is a point at which this is not sustainable for Russia”
This bulletin led with Trump standing by the pause and calling it good for America, then gave Zelensky's call for US politicians to apply more pressure. It reused the Kyiv analysis on the diesel row, Starlink and intelligence. The tone was direct and update-focused.
- “Donald Trump is standing by his decision to pause sanctions against Russia, despite opposition from Ukraine.”
- “The president told reporters it was a very good decision that would be good for America.”
- “But the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is now urging US politicians to bring more pressure to bear on Russia to end the war.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 05:09 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
BBC News · Sun 18 Oct - 06:09 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
BBC News · Sun 18 Oct
- 03:07 BST
President Zelensky, President of Ukraine
Sky News · Sun 18 Oct - 03:12 BST
Thom Tillis, Republican North Carolina Senator
Sky News · Sun 18 Oct - 03:12 BST
Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democrats in the Senate
Sky News · Sun 18 Oct - 03:13 BST
David Petraeus, former head of the CIA
Sky News · Sun 18 Oct
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.