"Sanctions blackout": Zelenskyy says Graham Act has been completely ignored

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the lifting of sanctions against Russia under the Graham Act signed by US President Donald Trump as a "sanctions blackout". However, he believes the legislation could still be used to help put pressure on Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda.

Details: The president noted that yesterday Russia carried out one of its largest attacks on Ukraine's energy sector. More than 15 key electricity generation and transmission facilities were attacked across various parts of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stressed that it is important to ensure that everyone in the United States also sees what is really happening.

Quote: "At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end. This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters."

Details: He added that Russia is trying to plunge Ukraine into a blackout just before winter and leave millions of people without electricity or heating.

Quote: "Pressure is needed to stop this. A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground. We must keep trying to end the war. To end it, not give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely."

Background:

• On 16 October, US President Donald Trump signed an order waiving the application of sanctions against Russia under the Graham Act. The White House said the decision was in the US's national interest.
• US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who helped draft the Graham Act, strongly criticised Trump for refusing to take further steps under the legislation to pressure Russia.
• Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, described Trump's decision not to impose restrictions on Russia under the Graham Act as a historic moment.

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