Trump Escalates Pressure on Ukraine via Sanctions Waiver and Starshield Cuts

Key points

• Trump stated that Zelenskyy must 'want to settle' the war, warning that Ukraine's people will not tolerate the conflict indefinitely.
• The administration waived implementation of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing national security interests to avoid tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.
• Ukraine reported slowdowns in Starshield military-grade satellite services, with Elon Musk attributing the restrictions to the US government, while the White House denied involvement.
• Zelenskyy met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo, proposing a trilateral meeting with Putin to address peace issues.
• Trump announced a deal to import Russian diesel to lower US fuel prices, a move criticized for funding Moscow's war effort.

Background

This escalation follows a September 2026 push by Trump for a pre-winter peace deal, citing high casualty figures. In October, Trump signed a bipartisan law imposing sanctions on Russia but quickly waived its implementation to secure a diesel deal with Putin, a move that drew bipartisan outrage and criticism from Kyiv for undermining sanctions.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera and The New York Times emphasize Trump's direct pressure on Zelenskyy and his efforts to normalize relations with Russia, including the diesel deal and sanctions waiver. MS NOW frames these actions as a political strategy to scapegoat Ukraine for domestic issues like high fuel prices and midterm election concerns, noting a pattern of Trump targeting Ukraine during periods of political stress. Inquirer.net reports the diplomatic pressure but focuses less on the domestic political motivations. There is a disagreement over the Starshield outage: Reuters and Musk blame the White House, while The Wall Street Journal and the administration blame SpaceX.

Why it matters

The US administration's shifting stance on sanctions and military support signals a potential realignment of US foreign policy toward Russia, which could impact the trajectory of the war and US alliances in Europe. The internal conflict over the Starshield outage highlights tensions between the White House and key allies like SpaceX, raising questions about the reliability of US support for Ukraine.

What to watch

Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Russia to continue peace discussions. The outcome of the proposed trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin remains uncertain, with Trump acknowledging 'tremendous hatred' between the two leaders. The implementation of the sanctions waiver and the status of Starshield services will be closely monitored for further signals of US policy shifts.