“We discussed two main aspects with him — energy and the banking system. Will the U.S. be able to impose sanctions on two sectors? I would really like to,” Zelenskyy said.
He described the conversation as positive and said it reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to imposing strong sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin refuses a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy suggested that the U.S. had not yet introduced a tough sanctions package because it was waiting for concessions from Moscow. But he warned that inaction could embolden the Kremlin.
“In my opinion, not imposing sanctions will raise the morale of the Kremlin,” he said. “And this will definitely be reflected in one way or another on the battlefield. They are emotionally inspired by words. They are ready to give their lives, and they don’t even understand what for.”
Zelenskyy also said the full effects of the current sanctions would become evident in mid-2026.
“June 2026 — we all hope there will be no more war by then. Very much. But at the same time, we understand that the Russians will feel the economic impact of the sanctions. Already from those that have been adopted. And we believe that from that moment, somewhere in the summer of 2026, their economy will feel it strongly. We understand what the budget deficit will be,” he said.
On May 20, the European Union approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting nearly 200 ships in Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet.
That same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings that new sanctions could discourage Russia from negotiating a ceasefire.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham also stated that the Senate is prepared to vote on a new sanctions bill if there is no progress in peace talks.
On May 26, President Trump sharply criticized recent large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine and signaled that he would consider tightening sanctions.
In a post on his social network, Truth Social, Trump said Vladimir Putin had “gone crazy” and warned that attempting to seize all of Ukraine would lead to the “fall of Russia.”