Russia sanctions

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told the European Parliament that Ukraine did not surrender on Putin's terms only because Europe backed it.

Zelensky renewed his call for Western partners to use approximately 300 billion dollars in frozen Russian sovereign assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction, arguing that Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused.

Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin special envoy, hailed Trump decision to pause Graham Act sanctions against Russia as a historic moment, claiming the law would have halted all US-Russia economic cooperation. Zelensky called it a sanctions blackout.

House Foreign Affairs Committee member Democrat Gregory Meeks introduced a bipartisan bill to block a US-Russia diesel fuel deal, prohibiting the DFC from investing in Russian energy and invalidating related executive orders.

French naval forces intercepted the tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean, suspected of illegally shipping Russian fuel in violation of international sanctions, President Emmanuel Macron announced.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker wrote to Treasury Secretary Bessent and Secretary of State Rubio urging activation of Russia sanctions by October 18, targeting the shadow fleet, a satellite system, and Kyrgyz banks.

President Zelensky said UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham assured him there are no plans to lift British sanctions on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, after the EU removed them from its sanctions lists. Zelensky welcomed the UK's commitment.