US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his decision to waive some sanctions on Russia, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of not wanting to end the war.
"My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Zelenskiy doesn't care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him, and that Crooked Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did," he added.
Trump signed an executive order late Friday waiving broad new sanctions mandated by legislation named for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine's defence.
He has also temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel, allowing supplies to flow into global markets in a bid to lower fuel prices ahead of US midterm elections on 3 November.
Trump links Russia sanctions waiver to fuel prices ahead of midterms
Opinion polls suggest that Republicans could face significant losses in the election, as voters voice growing frustration over fuel prices that have surged since the Iran war began in late February.
Most economists believe the suspension of congressionally approved sanctions on Russia and the diesel deal with the Kremlin will do little to lower US fuel prices.
Trump also repeated his claim that Ukraine was targeting Russian refineries to hurt Republicans ahead of the midterm election.
The move drew a sharp response from Kyiv and its allies, further straining relations between Trump and Zelenskiy.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a meeting with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping the following month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
According to the report, which cited people familiar with the discussions, Zelenskiy would not be included in the proposed talks, which would seek to end the war on terms favourable to Moscow.
Zelenskiy warns Ukraine cannot prevail if US backs Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Sunday that Ukraine would lose its defensive battle against Russia if the United States switched sides and supported Moscow.
"If the United States will take the side of Russia, of course we will not prevail," Zelenskiy told NBC's 'Meet the Press', calling a withdrawal of US support "a historic mistake and big tragedy".
He said Washington had resumed sharing intelligence after it was "blocked for some period of time", adding that Ukraine had missed critical intelligence on ballistic missile attacks for three days.
Zelenskiy also criticised US restrictions affecting Ukraine's war effort, saying, "We are strategic partners," but "we cannot applaud when someone turns against Ukraine".
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump's suspension of new sanctions on Russia, saying Trump wanted to assess their impact on the global and US economies.
Zelenskiy speaks to US envoys as Trump renews criticism
Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as Russia and Ukraine attacked each other's energy infrastructure, leaving thousands without power in Ukraine and setting an oil refinery ablaze near Saint Petersburg.
After the talks, Zelenskiy said "a lot depends" on the US position, adding that "this war must be brought to an end". Ukraine was ready to work "constructively" and "honestly", he said, calling for the same approach from its European and US partners.
Zelenskiy said he also discussed deliveries of US Patriot air defence systems as Kyiv struggles to counter Russian missiles.
A US-led push to end the war has yet to yield a breakthrough, with Trump expressing frustration at both Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv hit by Russian air strike after Ukraine targets Saint Petersburg
Zelenskiy accused Moscow of violating Trump's "energy ceasefire" 76 times and warned that Russia planned to deprive Ukrainians of heat and electricity before winter. Russian strikes left "tens of thousands" without power, he said, while Ukrainian officials reported three deaths.
An overnight Russian air strike damaged a subway station on the left bank of Kyiv, killing a 21-year-old woman and injuring three others, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram on Monday. A medical facility and a non-residential building were also damaged.
On Sunday, Ukraine launched drones at Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg, setting an oil refinery ablaze and killing one person, Moscow said.