₦airaland Forum

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a US decision to extend the period during which Russia is allowed to sell oil despite Western sanctions.

The move means countries can purchase Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on vessels at sea until 16 May.

The US argues that the waiver is meant to ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran.

But in his remarks on Sunday, Zelensky said "every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war" in Ukraine. Widespread sanctions have been in place against Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

The devastating US and Israel attacks against Iran have prompted it to retaliate not only against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf, but also against energy fatalities and other civilian sites across Arab allies of the US in the region.

Additionally, Iran has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz - the narrow passage where some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is usually transported through.

This has led to turmoil in energy markets, with fears that a world recession may ensue if it is not reopened soon

.The US move to ease Russian sanctions on 13 March was widely condemned by Zelensky as well as his European allies.

Extending the waiver on Friday, the US said it wanted "to ensure oil is available to those ⁠who need it" as negotiations to end the war "accelerate".

The Ukrainian leader said Russia had more than 110 tankers from its "shadow fleet" - vessels with obscured ownership designed to help it bypass sanctions - with "over 12 million tons" of oil.

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".

The Ukrainian leader did not explain what those figures were based on.


That included the deadliest attack against Ukraine in months on 15 April during which more than 700 drones and missiles were used in multiple waves in one night, killing at least 18 people.

Ukraine has also attacked Russia, particularly focusing on energy facilities.

However, despite ongoing attacks, a stalemate has been reached in the war in Ukraine, with Russia in control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Efforts led by the US to end the war have been put on hold as a result of the war in Iran.
But he added that 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".

LabStores:
It's crazy how a country can dictate who can trade with another country in the name of sanctions...

Ironfaceman:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c248m3z49j1o

LabStores:
It's crazy how a country can dictate who can trade with another country in the name of sanctions...

tamdun:
Why would any sane country abandon cheap oil from Russia? Euro leaders are dumb

LabStores:
It's crazy how a country can dictate who can trade with another country in the name of sanctions...

HacheNoire:
Zelensky still finds it difficult to understand that he is on his own!

The moment Trump won the election, a normal person should have known it’s game over!

Like atrump didn’t know even during the sanctions, India as buying from Russia while same Indian sells to Europe!

Europe! The dumbest continent on the planet. Blew up Nord stream at their own detriment, and now, an American wants to buy it 🤣😂🤣😂. Energy prices crippling the hell out of their economy!

frankson1:
They blew up the Nord stream and even tried to pin it on Russia.

Europe is being tossed with no direction like a boat on water.

Instead of them to act as a mediator, they're funding Zelenski to his destruction.

Zelenski is a big clown if he believes that Europe hasn't been buying Russian oil all these years

masterfactor:
This world police is getting into the Head of the United States of America.

How can a country dictate who to buy and who not to buy from.

To my fellow Nigeria that are PRO United States of America and isreal, what United States is doing to cuba should be an eye opener.

casualobserver:
This one still doesn’t understand he is just a pawn!

LabStores:
It's crazy how a country can dictate who can trade with another country in the name of sanctions...

JuanDeDios:
What's your view on what Mr Putin is doing to Ukraine?