Zelenskyy: easing US sanctions on oil will give Russia $10 billion
13.03.2026 - 17:30
Partial easing of US sanctions against Russian oil on tankers could allow Russia to earn an additional $10 billion.
This was заявив by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris during a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Against the backdrop of America’s decisions to partially ease sanctions against Russian oil currently on tankers at sea, this easing alone by America could give Russia about $10 billion for war,” the head of state noted.
Volodymyr Zelensky added that the US logic is to stabilize the situation on the markets. However, according to him, Russia will spend this money on weapons, primarily on drones that strike Ukraine.
He also recalled that intelligence reports indicate that Russian drones are also used against Iran’s neighbors – the countries of the Middle East, as well as against Europeans and Americans, whose presence is at various bases in this region.
“Therefore, in the end, lifting sanctions so that more drones will fly at you later, in my opinion, is not the right decision,” the President of Ukraine concluded.
Recall that the US allowed operations with Russian oil already loaded on tankers for a month. The pause in sanctions will be in effect until April 11 and also applies to a number of related services – in particular, insurance, mooring and pilotage.
