Trump Eases Russia Sanctions, Midterm Campaign Money, Violent Protests In France

Michel Martin (0:02)

President Trump signed new sanctions on Russia. Now he's waived them.

Leila Fadel (0:06)

What does the US easing pressure on Moscow mean for Ukraine?

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (0:09)

If the United States will support Putin, it's a historic mistake and a big threat.

Leila Fadel (0:15)

I'm Leila Fadel with Michel Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Democrats are out raising Republicans in the most competitive Senate races. But Elon Musk is pouring hundreds of millions into Republican super PACs. What does the money tell us about where each party stands ahead of the midterms?

Michel Martin (0:34)

And France's president says the protesters who rioted over the weekend must be punished. A minister admitted that police lost control. What began over conditions in schools grew into nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living and violent police crackdowns. Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

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Michel Martin (2:06)

At least one person is dead and more than a dozen injured from a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's former imperial capital of St. Petersburg.

Leila Fadel (2:13)

The attack happened Sunday. Russian missile strikes against Ukraine killed at least 11 people over the weekend. The continued fighting is happening as President Trump argues the best way to end the war is to relieve pressure on Russia.

Michel Martin (2:26)

Joining us to talk about this is NPR's Charles Mainz in Moscow. Charles, good morning.

Charles Maynes (2:30)

Morning, Michelle.

Michel Martin (2:31)

Could you start with these attacks in St. Petersburg? What can you tell us?

Charles Maynes (2:34)

According to Russia's regional governor, Ukrainian drones struck a range of strategic targets in and around St. Petersburg, including energy infrastructure. A key poured oil terminal was hit, so was a refinery causing large fires and massive plumes of black smoke along the skyline. It appears this was the largest attack on St. Petersburg since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022

Exactly how many drones struck the city, we don't know, but Russia's defense ministry said it intercepted 1,000 drones over various regions of Russia that night.

Michel Martin (3:06)

How big of a deal are the strikes on oil facilities, given that President Trump has been demanding that Ukraine stop hitting those sites?

Charles Maynes (3:15)

Well, Trump seems to be trying to protect Russian oil facilities. Following a deal he cut with President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, a move Trump hopes will bring down the price of gas for US voters ahead of midterm elections. So in that sense, the news of Ukraine striking energy facilities in St. Petersburg Sunday is unlikely to please Trump, who's already called previous strikes, including one against Moscow, last week a disgrace, even as Russia has continued its own strikes on Ukraine. But it's part of a recent pattern we've seen from Trump, lashing out at Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in particular.

Michel Martin (3:48)

Talk more about that tension between Trump and Zelenskyy.

Charles Maynes (3:51)

Well, Trump accuses Zelenskyy of carrying out these attacks to drive fuel prices up in the US, although economists will say that the rise in prices is mostly a result of Trump's war in Iran.

Trump has since called for new leadership in Ukraine, meaning Zelenskyy, not Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched this war after all, is the real obstacle to peace. And so to Ukrainians and their supporters, it feels, and not for the first time, that Trump is aligning the US with Moscow against Kiev.

Michel Martin (4:18)

And what has Zelenskyy been saying about this?

Charles Maynes (4:20)

He's tried to tread lightly, but he was asked directly what the US supporting Russia would mean for Ukraine's future. Here's his response on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.