Trump official rages over claims US is rewarding

United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz is livid after President Trump was accused of “rewarding” Russian President Vladimir Putin by extending a momentary waiver on Russian oil sanctions.

Waltz appeared on Meet the Press over the weekend, where he mentioned the Trump administration’s controversial determination.

“This is not rewarding Russia. That’s ridiculous,” Waltz said during the interview.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that it will prolong its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments to ease shortages triggered by the Iran struggle, just days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ruled out such a transfer.

The basic license means U.S. sanctions is not going to apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that have been loaded on tankers as of Friday.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Bessent ruled out extending the license.

“We will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil, and we will not be renewing the general license on Iranian oil,” he said.

On Sunday, however, Waltz defended the reversal, deflecting questions about Bessent’s earlier assertions.

“Well, look, Secretary Bessent has been clear that what has been allowed to move is actually on the water,” Waltz said. “What is not being allowed to move is coming out of Iranian refineries right now. And that’s the same with Russian oil as well.”

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Moscow has reportedly profited from the momentary pause on the sanctions. According to the Kyiv Independent, Russia has pocketed an further $150 million, or more than $4 billion by the time the first waiver expired.

Nevertheless, Waltz characterised the license as robust on the Kremlin.

“It’s this administration that put sanctions on Russia’s number one and number two oil providers at Rosneft and Lukoil, unlike the last administration,” he said.

“So I don’t think anybody could argue, if you actually look at the facts and not the rhetoric, that this administration hasn’t taken a tough stand to both end the war in Ukraine but also end Iran’s race towards a nuclear weapon,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has beforehand criticized the Trump administration’s transfer, saying the choice might give as a lot as $10 billion to benefit Russia’s struggle equipment. “This certainly does not help peace,” he said.

The Ukrainian chief also criticized the obvious lack of consideration to the struggle with Ukraine amid the battle in the Middle East, which began on Feb. 28. He said that while it was “understandable that the attention of the world is moving to the Middle East,” the shifting focus was “not good for us.”

For Zelensky, any potential financial benefit to Russia might extend the struggle. The transfer to ease oil sanctions might benefit Russia’s struggle financial system, which has been in precarious circumstances in latest months. Most notably, the Kremlin had to promote gold reserves and increase consumption taxes to enhance revenues from the struggle.

Back in March, during the first waiver, European Council President Antonio Costa said in a post on X that the Trump administration’s “unilateral decision” to elevate sanctions would impression “European security.”

“The unilateral decision by the US to lift sanctions on Russian oil exports is very concerning, as it impacts European security,” Costa wrote on his social media. “Increasing economic pressure on Russia is decisive for it to accept a serious negotiation for a just and lasting peace.”

“Weakening sanctions increases Russian resources to wage the war of aggression against Ukraine,” Costa continued.