Trump Pauses Russia Sanctions Amid Ukraine Tensions and Missile Strikes

Ukraine received no advance warning from the United States before Russian missiles struck power plants in Kyiv on Sunday night, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as fresh tensions over intelligence sharing and arms deliveries exposed deepening strains with Washington.

Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuri Ihnat confirmed on Monday that no alert arrived ahead of the initial barrage around 11pm local time, though a later wave at 3am did come with notice from American partners. Zelenskyy posted on social media that Ukraine had again been left without timely information during a multi-wave ballistic missile assault. He tied the omission directly to recent US policy shifts, including blocked supplies of air defense missiles and the decision to pause sanctions legislation aimed at Moscow.

President Donald Trump waived the sanctions package on Friday, notifying Congress that the move served national interests during ongoing negotiations. The measure, passed by both chambers and named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, had targeted Russia’s economy in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Trump stated on Truth Social that he did not want any action to “drive foolishly” the talks off course.

The sanctions pause drew immediate pushback from Ukrainian officials, who warned it would strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position. Zelenskyy described the step as harmful to Ukraine’s defense and a signal that partners were denying the reality of sustained Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Separate complaints emerged over disrupted Starlink satellite service and slowed deliveries of PAC-3 missiles needed for air defense. Zelenskyy raised these issues during a Monday call with bipartisan members of Congress, according to a joint statement from Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Blumenthal. Rubio told lawmakers the US government had no role in Starlink problems, though Zelenskyy reported the service remained degraded in key areas.

Republican lawmakers expressed growing frustration with the administration’s handling of the issues. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said Congress would demand answers and consider punitive budget measures if intelligence and equipment shortfalls were not addressed. Other GOP senators voiced surprise at the sanctions waiver but stopped short of immediate threats.

Trump escalated the public rift by suggesting someone other than Zelenskyy should lead Ukraine’s negotiating team. He told reporters outside the White House that Zelenskyy should have ended the war earlier and that it might be time for Kyiv to appoint a new negotiator. The comments followed earlier statements in which Trump labeled Zelenskyy a warmonger and questioned his commitment to peace.

The sequence of events has left Ukrainian forces facing renewed Russian strikes with reduced advance notice and uncertain resupply lines for critical interceptors. Power facilities in the capital were hit in the Sunday attack, adding to months of damage to energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy’s government has continued to press for restored intelligence flows and missile shipments while Washington signals a shift toward rapid negotiations that would require concessions from Kyiv.

The friction comes as Russia maintains pressure on Ukrainian cities and energy grids, with no sign that paused sanctions or altered warning protocols have altered Moscow’s battlefield approach.