Volodymyr Zelensky says halted sanctions were "truly effective pressure on Russia" to end the war

US President Donald Trump halted parts of a Russia sanctions package just before they were to start, under a directive issued Friday night. The measures had passed Congress and were signed into law in September. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the suspension was a 60-day pause to study effects on the global and US economies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky objected, saying the penalties could have been very helpful and noting Russian overnight strikes on 15 Ukrainian energy sites that cut power in several regions as winter nears. The law sought to pressure Moscow through tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, plus measures on officials, banks, and a vessel network. Some lawmakers from both parties criticized the move; a Russian envoy welcomed it.