theSIGNAL NEWS
19 October 2026
"Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice."
NEWSBUSINESSTECHNOLOGYWORLDSCIENCECULTUREENVIRONMENTSPORT
World

Trump Waives Russia Sanctions, Blames Zelenskyy for War

Donald Trump has suspended sweeping sanctions on Moscow and accused Ukraine's president of never wanting peace, deepening a rift with Kyiv.

Donald Trump has lifted the pressure on Moscow. Late on Friday, the US president signed an executive order waiving a broad set of new sanctions on Russia. On Sunday, he defended the move and turned on Kyiv. Congress had mandated the sanctions through legislation named for the late senator Lindsey Graham, a firm supporter of Ukraine's defence.

Trump has also temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel. The aim, he says, is to let supplies flow into global markets and push down fuel prices. The timing matters. US midterm elections take place on 3 November, and polls suggest Republicans could suffer heavy losses.

Voters are angry about fuel prices, which have surged since the Iran war began in late February. Most economists doubt that the waivers or the diesel deal with the Kremlin will cut prices at the pump. On Truth Social, Trump said he did not want to "foolishly" drive Russia away from the negotiating table. He then attacked Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian leader "doesn't care" and "probably never" wanted to end the war.

Photo: Maksym Kaharlytskyi / Unsplash
Trump's waiver on Russia sanctions strains ties with Kyiv as US fuel prices fuel midterm worries.
⛽
November 3
US midterm election date driving fuel-price politics
Discuss
  • Trump says he wants to keep Russia at the bargaining table. Is waiving sanctions a reasonable way to do that?
  • Why might fuel prices influence a leader's foreign policy decisions before an election?
World

Trump Praises Netanyahu as "Warrior" and Peace Partner

Donald Trump has praised Benjamin Netanyahu in a new social media post. He called the Israeli prime minister a "Great Warrior" and an even greater "Partner for Peace" in the fight against Iran. The message arrives as tensions between Israel and Tehran remain high.…
  • Can a leader be both a warrior and a partner for peace?
❝
My decision on Russia is a very simple one.
Donald Trump, President of the United States
World

Russia Hits Kyiv as Washington Turns on Zelensky

Russia struck Kyiv and its surrounding region on Monday. Moscow said it hit military-industrial sites, missile and drone depots, and data centres. In Uzbekistan, Marco Rubio denied that Washington had paused intelligence sharing, as Kyiv has claimed. He urged Zelensky to focus on ending the war. Donald Trump went further, accusing Zelensky of never wanting peace.…
  • If Washington eases sanctions on Russian fuel, who really pays the price for peace talks?
AMERICAS · World
Inside Ukrainian offensive pushing Russia back - with Starlink playing a key role
AMERICAS · World
Starlink: How Elon Musk's company influences geopolitics
AMERICAS · World
Is the US limiting Starlink in Ukraine? The risks could be catastrophic
ASIA · World
Trump Vs Zelensky, From the Screen to the Streets, Gen Z protests from Paris to Dehli
theSIGNAL IN THE LAB
IVOCABULARY
waivingmandated
midterm electionssurgedat the pump
negotiating tablefavourable to Moscow
IIGRAMMAR FOCUS
Wish and if only — expressing regret
Use 'wish' or 'if only' + past simple for regrets about the present (I wish he were here), and + past perfect for regrets about the past (I wish he had stayed). Use 'wish/if only' + would + base verb to complain about someone else's behaviour or to express a hope for change.
had · were · would · could · hadn't · wouldn't · didn't
  1. Ukrainian officials probably wish Washington not waived the sanctions on Russia late on Friday.
  2. Many American drivers wish fuel prices so high since the Iran war began in late February.
  3. If only the waivers cut prices at the pump, Republicans might fear the midterm elections less.
  4. Zelenskyy must wish Trump stop blaming him for the war and instead support Ukraine's defence.
  5. Some Republicans may wish they supported the sanctions bill before voters grew angry about fuel costs.
  6. If only Kyiv be included in the proposed meeting between Putin, Trump and Xi Jinping, Ukrainians might feel less abandoned.
IIIIDIOMS
Define each idiom in your own words. Then write one in a sentence of your own.
  1. to lift the pressure on someone
  2. to turn on someone
  3. to raise the stakes
  4. to switch sides
  5. at the pump
IVCRITICAL THINKING
Several of these reports rely on anonymous sources, social media posts and competing claims from Washington, Moscow and Kyiv. How can a reader decide which version of events to trust, and what kinds of evidence would make a claim about someone's motives, such as who 'really wants peace', more convincing? Consider also how the choice of words like 'warrior', 'blames' or 'turns on' can shape an audience's opinion before they have judged the facts.
VCREATIVE · HEADLINES
Write a headline for the top story in each of the following styles. One line each, no explanation:
  • TABLOID NEWSPAPER
  • LUXURY MAGAZINE
  • ACTIVIST BLOG
VIWRITING
Imagine you are a Ukrainian citizen living in Kyiv, or a driver in the United States worried about fuel costs. Write a short personal letter (about 120 words) to your own government explaining how this week's news makes you feel and what you would like leaders to do next.
VIIDEGREES OF EXTREMITY
Complete each ladder from mild to strong.
  • The president eased the sanctions.→→
  • Kyiv expressed concern about the decision.→→
  • Trump criticised Zelenskyy.→→
  • Fuel prices have risen.→→
  • The Republicans may lose a few seats.→→
  • Most economists are unsure the move will help.→→
VIIISPEAKING
  1. Which matters more to a voter: foreign affairs or the price of petrol?
  2. Should a country ever make peace terms without the invaded nation's consent?
  3. What does a politician gain by publicly blaming another leader for a war?
  4. How reliable are anonymous sources in reports about secret diplomatic talks?