KYIV, April 19 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today condemned the easing of sanctions on Russian oil after the US extended a waiver meant to soften surging energy prices driven by the Middle East war.

"Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war" and is used for devastating strikes on Ukraine, Zelensky said in a post on X.

Zelensky did not mention the US, but President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea.

The action was intended to bring down soaring energy prices. But the US Treasury Department extension came two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waive...