Politics
Trump says he is negotiating to end the Russia-Ukraine war while exempting Russia from new sanctions
October 19, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Trump said he is conducting intensive negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and will not sign documents imposing additional measures on Russia.
- Trump issued a presidential decree exempting Russia from new US sanctions, days after an agreement allowing the US to import Russian diesel.
- Trump criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, saying Zelensky does not want to end the war.
- Zelensky said the US resumed sharing vital intelligence with Ukraine after a brief halt, warning Ukraine could not hold out if Washington officially sided with Russia.
- Russia's defense ministry said it struck a logistics center in Rivne and a cargo ship off Odessa, while a St. Petersburg governor reported Ukrainian drone strikes killed one person.