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Zelenskyy Slams U.S. Oil Waiver, Warns of War Funding

4/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the U.S. decision to extend a waiver for Russian oil sales, warning it could fund Russia's war.
He noted over 110 tankers carrying more than 12 million tons of Russian oil are at sea, potentially generating $10 billion for military strikes.
He said every dollar for Russian oil sustains the war and urged stricter sanctions to cut oil revenues as drone and missile strikes continue.

History

Historical Context

Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the U.S. and EU imposed extensive sanctions targeting major companies like Rosneft, which produced over 10 million barrels of oil daily. These sanctions aimed to curb Russia's military funding through oil revenues. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's recent condemnation of U.S. sanctions waivers highlights ongoing concerns about the impact of Russian oil sales on the conflict in Ukraine.

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Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the U.S. decision to extend a waiver for Russian oil sales, warning it could fund Russia's war.
He noted over 110 tankers carrying more than 12 million tons of Russian oil are at sea, potentially generating $10 billion for military strikes.
He said every dollar for Russian oil sustains the war and urged stricter sanctions to cut oil revenues as drone and missile strikes continue.

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