00:00While the world was watching Trump's summit with Xi Jinping,
00:03a quieter but significant decision was made in Washington,
00:06one that is drawing sharp criticism from Ukraine's allies.
00:10The Trump administration has extended a waiver on Russian oil sanctions for the second time.
00:15This waiver allows Russia-connected petroleum tankers
00:19to continue operating without triggering U.S. penalties.
00:22That alone would be notable.
00:24But what makes this story particularly significant
00:27is that Treasury Secretary Scott Besant
00:30publicly pledged the administration would not renew this waiver.
00:34He made that statement.
00:35And then they renewed it twice.
00:38The first time could be called a one-time judgment call.
00:42The second renewal suggests a pattern.
00:44Ukraine has been urging the U.S. to tighten sanctions on Russia since the war began.
00:49Western European allies have argued that economic pressure
00:52is the one non-military lever that could bring Moscow to the table.
00:57The Trump administration's position has been to pursue both pressure
01:01and engagement simultaneously.
01:04But renewing Russia oil sanctions relief,
01:06while simultaneously pushing Ukraine's allies for more military funding,
01:11is a contradiction that critics are now pointing to directly.
01:14For the American public, the question is simple.
01:17Is the U.S. actually squeezing Russia economically,
01:20or is it quietly keeping Russian oil flowing?
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