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🇬🇭 Ghana /Conflict & Security

Zelensky Condemns US Extension of Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver

From Ghanaian Times · (3d ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a US decision to extend a waiver allowing Russia to sell oil despite Western sanctions, calling it "money for the war."
  • Zelensky stated that Russia had over 110 tankers at sea carrying oil, and its sale would bring $10 billion to Moscow's coffers, directly funding new strikes against Ukraine.
  • The US justified the waiver as a measure to ease energy supply disruptions caused by the conflict with Iran, while Zelensky cited recent Russian attacks including drones, bombs, and missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly denounced the United States' decision to prolong a waiver that permits Russia to continue selling oil, even under the shadow of Western sanctions. In his address, Zelensky unequivocally stated that "every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war" currently raging in Ukraine.

every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war

— Volodymyr ZelenskyUkrainian President condemning the US decision to extend Russia's oil sanctions waiver.

He highlighted that Russia possesses a substantial "shadow fleet" of over 110 tanker vessels, carrying millions of tons of oil, with sales potentially generating $10 billion for Moscow. Zelensky argued that these funds are directly converted into resources for launching further attacks against Ukrainian cities and communities.

Russia had more than 110 tanker vessels at sea until May 16, many from its “shadow fleet” — vessels with obscured ownership designed to help it bypass sanctions — with “over 12 million tons” of oil.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyUkrainian President detailing the scale of Russian oil exports.

This condemnation comes amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. The US has defended the waiver, asserting it is a necessary step to mitigate energy supply shortages exacerbated by the ongoing conflict involving Iran. However, Zelensky's administration remains unconvinced, pointing to the significant volume of Russian oil still reaching the market and its direct contribution to Moscow's war machine.

Their sale, he added, would bring $10bn (£7.4bn) to Moscow’s coffers as “a resource that is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine.”

— Volodymyr ZelenskyUkrainian President quantifying the financial benefit to Russia from oil sales.

Zelensky provided stark figures on recent Russian aggression, detailing the launch of thousands of attack drones, guided aerial bombs, and missiles against Ukraine in the past week alone. This underscores Ukraine's perspective that any financial lifeline to Russia, particularly from oil sales, directly fuels the devastating conflict and prolongs the suffering of its people.

just over the past week, Russia had launched “over 2,360 attack drones, more than 1,320 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 60 missiles of various types at our cities and communities

— Volodymyr ZelenskyUkrainian President detailing the intensity of recent Russian attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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