Zelensky Begs ‘Everyone in America’ to ‘See What Is Really Happening’ After Trump Pauses Russian Sanctions Bill

(Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik via AP) (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Russia is “trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine — right before winter,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted in a lengthy X post hours which begged Americans to see “what is really happening” — hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing sanctions on dictator Vladimir Putin’s country.

Zelensky took to X to sound the alarm about ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, which keep coming despite Trump’s recent claim that there was an “energy ceasefire” between the two countries.

The Ukrainian president thanked Europe for “new support packages” while warning Americans hours after Trump’s executive order shielding Russia from what should have been tough impacts from the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was intended to penalize Russian officials, wealthy elites, and financial institutions while targeting countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.

Zelensky called the executive order a “complete disregard” of the bill:

Yesterday, the Russians carried out one of their largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector – more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities were targeted across different regions of Ukraine. Restoration work is ongoing, with all necessary services and all available resources of Ukrainian energy companies involved. I thank everyone working practically nonstop to restore power.

The most difficult situation was in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta, and Netishyn. Energy facilities in the Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions were also hit. The Russians have scaled up their anti-energy operation and are trying to stretch our reserves and repair capabilities as thin as possible. Between 7 p.m. yesterday and 7 a.m. today alone, more than 320 jet-powered and gasoline-powered “shaheds,” along with loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, were used against our energy sector, our cities, and our communities. And although our warriors are shooting down a significant number of them, the sheer scale and unrelenting pace of Russia’s strikes, specifically against our energy sector, are unfortunately having severe consequences.

It is important that our European partners have already prepared new support packages for Ukraine. I am grateful to them for this. And it is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening. At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end. This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.

Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine – right before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this. A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground. We must keep trying to end the war. To end it, not give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely. I thank everyone who is truly fighting for peace and helping Ukraine!

Trump’s executive order sparked outrage from critics who said the decision was “horrifying.”

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