Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a U.S. temporary waiver on sanctions for Russian seaborne oil would not help end the war and could provide roughly $10 billion to Moscow, a figure he did not source. He warned that strikes in the Middle East have pushed up oil prices and risk diverting attention and air-defence supplies away from Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged continued support and opposed lifting sanctions on Russia.
Zelenskiy: U.S. Waiver On Russian Seaborne Oil Won't End War, Could Bolster Moscow
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 13, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Friday that a U.S. decision to temporarily waive sanctions on Russian seaborne oil will not help end the war and could materially bolster Moscow's finances for the conflict.
Speaking to students at Sciences Po in Paris and later at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskiy said the move 'certainly does not help' and estimated it could provide Russia with around $10 billion — a figure he did not cite a source for.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shakes hands with France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) after delivering a speech during a joint press conference in Paris, March 13, 2026. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
'There is nothing good for Ukraine in the war in the Middle East. It's understandable that the attention of the world is moving to the Middle East,' he said.
Oil prices have risen since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, a development Kyiv says indirectly benefits Russia and risks diverting international focus and resources away from Ukraine.
Zelenskiy also warned that Gulf Arab states' increased use of air-defence systems to repel Iranian attacks has drawn down regional stocks of missiles and will exacerbate Ukraine's existing shortage of air-defence munitions. He said Gulf states had used more PAC‑3 Patriot missiles in a few days than Kyiv has received from Washington over four years; he did not provide a source for that comparison.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) put on a earpiece as they deliver a speech during a joint press conference, in Paris, March 13, 2026. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
The European Union has yet to approve a proposed 90 billion euro loan that would partly fund Kyiv's arms purchases; Ukraine hopes the package will be in place by mid-April.
President Macron pledged that Europe would not be deterred from assisting Ukraine, praised Kyiv's 'remarkable tenacity and courage', and said there was no justification for lifting sanctions on Russia. He added that weapons support would be stepped up, without giving further details.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) arrive for a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, March 13, 2026. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
Zelenskiy is also seeking to strengthen ties with Gulf states — many of which maintain close relations with Moscow — by presenting Ukraine as a reliable partner.
(Reporting by John Irish and Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Richard Lough, Gareth Jones and Alexandra Hudson)
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