Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies

Donald Trump has blocked numerous sanctions on Russia just two days before they were due to take effect, saying the waiver is in America's national interest.

Congress passed the law in September. It threatened tariffs of up to one hundred percent on the biggest buyers of Russian oil, and it targeted President Putin and Russian banks. Many of those measures are now waived.

President Zelensky says Washington has disregarded pressure that could have helped Ukraine enormously, as Russian strikes hit fifteen Ukrainian energy sites overnight.

Democrats in Washington have called the move a surrender to Putin, while Moscow has called it historic.