US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended President Donald Trump's decision to waive sanctions on sales of Russian oil, describing it as a temporary measure, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the administration wanted 60 days to assess how sanctions and tariffs would affect the global and US economies, pointing to high energy prices linked to the US war with Iran. Critics, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, say the move will boost Moscow's revenues.
Rubio also denied reports that the White House had a hand in limiting Ukraine's use of SpaceX's Starlink network. Ukrainian forces began losing connectivity on fast-moving drones on 14 October, and Zelensky says a speed cap remains in place. Rubio called the reports of White House involvement categorically false and said any disruption was not deliberate.
Source: The Kyiv Independent
