Zelensky urges Trump to impose Russia sanctions ‘now’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pressing Donald Trump to act fast, calling on the US president Friday to slap new sanctions on Russia following a wave of deadly strikes that killed civilians across Ukraine. The appeal came as diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire remain stuck and both sides continue escalating on the battlefield.
A direct appeal after deadly strikes
Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack overnight, hitting residential areas in at least four Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian emergency services reported at least 12 civilians killed and dozens wounded. Zelensky posted on social media within hours, addressing Trump directly and calling for immediate economic pressure on Moscow.
‘Sanctions are needed now,’ Zelensky wrote, arguing that without real costs, Russia has no reason to stop. It’s a message he’s delivered before, but the urgency in Friday’s statement was sharper than usual.
The strikes targeted Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy regions. Critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, was among the sites hit — a familiar Russian tactic heading into spring, even as temperatures ease.
Washington’s position remains murky
Trump has so far resisted calls from Kyiv and some members of Congress to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia. His administration has framed its approach as focused on negotiations, not punishment. But that posture is drawing criticism from both Ukrainian officials and some Republican lawmakers who argue that Moscow is using the peace talks as cover to keep fighting.
Still, there’s been no formal White House response to Friday’s appeal as of publication time.
A senior European diplomatic official, speaking on background, said Washington’s reluctance to escalate economic pressure on Russia was ‘complicating’ coordinated efforts among allies. ‘Everyone is watching what the US does next,’ the official said.
The stalled peace process
US-brokered ceasefire talks have produced little concrete progress. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has held meetings with Russian officials, and there have been back-channel discussions involving Saudi Arabia. But no framework agreement is in place, and both Kyiv and Moscow have accused the other of bad faith.
Ukraine has simultaneously stepped up its own long-range drone strikes inside Russian territory, hitting oil infrastructure and military depots as far as 1,000 kilometers from the front lines. Russia says those attacks disqualify Ukraine from serious peace negotiations. Kyiv dismisses that framing entirely.
The war is now in its fourth year, with front lines largely frozen but the human cost still climbing.
What comes next
Pressure on Trump is likely to mount if Russian strikes continue at this pace. Congress has been debating a fresh sanctions package for weeks, and Friday’s attack could give it new momentum.
For Zelensky, the calculation is straightforward: sanctions are one of the few levers that might actually shift Russian behavior. Whether Trump agrees — and whether he moves fast enough to matter — is another question entirely.
