Trump Waives Sweeping Russia Energy Sanctions as Ukraine Seeks €70 Billion in EU Aid
President Trump's executive order on Russia's energy sanctions marks a new low in US-Ukraine ties, while President Zelenskyy appeals to EU leaders for substantial financial and military support.
The day on the war
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, waiving sweeping US sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia's energy revenues, a move that was set to take effect. This decision, citing US national interests, has been criticized by sanctions campaigners and marks a new low in Washington's relationship with Kyiv.
The sanctions, part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, were intended to squeeze Russia's war revenues.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed EU leaders, urging them to provide an additional €70 billion (approximately $79 billion) in support for 2027, along with more Patriot missiles to bolster Ukraine's air defenses. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Zelenskyy's plea "has to be covered" and encouraged partner countries to contribute. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that the EU would analyze the demand and discuss it further before the end of the year.
Along the front
Donetsk Oblast (Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka directions)
Development: The fiercest fighting is reported here, with the Ukrainian General Staff recording 60 Russian attacks near Pokrovsk and 27 in the Kostyantynivka direction in a day.
Source: Ukrainian General Staff
Eastern Ukraine (Operation Vivaldi)
Development: Ukraine's Third Army Corps claims to have regained approximately 100 square kilometers in the latest phase of 'Operation Vivaldi,' bringing total recaptured territory to 275 square kilometers and 16 settlements since August.
Source: Ukraine's Third Army Corps
Strikes & the grid
Kherson region
What: Russian airstrike
Toll: 1 killed, 19 injured (Oleksandr Prokudin, regional military administration head)
Zaporizhzhia region
What: Attack on a residential area
Toll: 5 injured, multi-story apartment buildings damaged, parked cars ablaze (Mykhailo Semikin, regional military administration head)
Ukraine-wide
What: Russian forces attacked with Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, Kh-22/32 cruise missiles, 4 Kalibr missiles, and 332 drones.
Toll: Ukrainian air defense forces shot down all Kalibr missiles and 289 drones (Ukraine's Air Force)
Diplomacy & talks
EU Summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU leaders to provide an additional €70 billion in support for 2027 and more Patriot missiles to enhance air defenses.
EU discussions on Russian frozen assets. Talks on new funding for Ukraine have reignited calls for the EU to utilize approximately €200 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, though Belgium, where most funds are held, remains opposed.
Aid & sanctions
United States (President Trump)
Measure: Sanctions waiver
Detail: President Trump signed an executive order on October 16, waiving major provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which targeted Russia's energy revenues.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- EU leaders will analyze Ukraine's request for €70 billion in aid and discuss it before the end of the year.
- Discussions are expected to continue regarding the potential use of frozen Russian central bank assets to fund Ukraine.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.