US eased sanctions on Russia after requests from vulnerable" countries
The administration of Donald Trump said it extended waivers on oil sanctions against Russia and Iran following appeals from “vulnerable” countries affected by disruptions in global energy supplies linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that easing restrictions had provided financial benefits to Russia. However, he argued the move helped prevent a sharper spike in global oil prices.
During the hearing, Senator Chris Coons criticized the decision, saying the additional revenue could support Russia’s war efforts and its cooperation with Iran.
Bessent responded that without the waivers, oil prices could have surged to around $150 per barrel instead of roughly $100, which he said would have negatively impacted consumers. He added that the administration had not initially planned to extend the relief but reconsidered after requests from more than 10 energy-vulnerable countries during meetings tied to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
According to Bessent, those countries urged Washington to act to stabilize energy markets and avoid further economic strain.
Ukraine returned over 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia,- Zelensky
More than 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have been returned to Ukraine under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 22.
The figure was presented during a meeting with initiative representatives Oleksandr Bevz and Maksym Maksymov. According to Zelensky, 150 children have been brought back since the start of 2026 alone.
Launched in 2023, the initiative focuses on locating and returning Ukrainian children taken to Russian-occupied territories or Russia itself. A special commission under Ukraine’s Justice Ministry continues to verify each case of abduction.
Zelensky also announced a ministerial-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, scheduled for May 11 in Brussels. He said Ukraine expects concrete decisions and stronger support from partners.
A March 10 report by the United Nations concluded that Russia’s deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children during the full-scale war amounts to crimes against humanity.
According to Ukraine’s “Children of War” database, at least 20,000 children have been abducted since 2022, though officials believe the real number could be far higher. Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets estimates up to 150,000 children may have been taken, while presidential adviser Daria Herasymchuk puts the figure between 200,000 and 300,000.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over their alleged role in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
Trust between Ukraine and Slovakia is badly damaged over Druzhba pipeline - Slovak PM
Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said he would not be surprised if oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted again shortly after the European Union approves its financial support package for Ukraine.
Speaking on Facebook, Fico noted that Slovakia did not support the loan — alongside Hungary and Czechia — but acknowledged that the EU approved it through a lawful process.
He suggested that the loan’s implementation could be informally linked to restoring oil transit via Druzhba, adding that technical work, including pressure testing, is already underway.
At the same time, Fico expressed skepticism about the reliability of such arrangements, saying trust between Slovakia and Ukraine has been “badly damaged” when it comes to honoring commitments.
He warned that even if supplies resume, they could be halted again shortly after the loan is unblocked.
Fico emphasized that oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline are critical for Slovakia and the wider region, arguing that stable flows would help ease market tensions and potentially curb rising global energy prices.
Hungary says transit of Russian oil via Druzhba pipeline has resumed
Hungary’s Minister for EU Affairs, Janos Boka, said that the transit of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline toward Hungary through Ukraine resumed on April 22.
According to Boka, oil transportation from Belarus toward Ukraine restarted at 11:35 local time. He added that, based on current estimates, Russian oil could reach Hungary later the same day or by the morning of April 23 at the latest.
The minister emphasized that the operation of the Druzhba pipeline is crucial for Hungary’s energy security, allowing access to what he described as lawful, affordable, and reliable supply options.
The minister also pointed to rising global energy prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, saying Hungary’s strategy focuses on maximizing supply routes rather than reducing them. According to him, diversification strengthens energy security and helps keep prices competitive for both consumers and businesses.
He further stated that Hungary’s opposition to the €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine was not an end in itself but a tool to defend national interests, accusing Kyiv of acting in “bad faith.”
Boka claimed the resumption of oil transit demonstrated that Ukraine had previously restricted flows for political reasons and argued that Hungary’s approach had proven effective.