Tougher Economic Sanctions on Russia Loom
U.S. prepares potential sanctions against Russia pertaining to Ukraine; unsure if President Trump will endorse these measures, according to confidential sources.
It's looking like the U.S. is gearing up to slap Russia with even more economic sanctions. Here's the lowdown:
According to top U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter, the new sanctions have banking and energy measures in the pipeline, meant to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. The target list includes state-owned Russian energy behemoth Gazprom and major entities from the natural resources and banking sectors.
Although the details are vague, an anonymous administration official has confirmed the move, but kept tight-lipped about specifics.
However, whether these proposed sanctions will actually see the light of day depends on none other than the big boss himself, President Donald Trump. His feelings towards Moscow, marked by sympathy for their statements and actions, have swung from positive to frustration as Russian President Vladimir Putin persistently snubbed his calls for a ceasefire and peace talks in Ukraine.
One source familiar with the issue stated that the National Security Council is working on "some set of more punitive actions" against Russia, but Trump's approval is required. Both Trump and a second U.S. official confirmed that the decision lies in the President's hands.
The White House remains guarded about the situation, with National Security Council Spokesman, James Hewitt, only mentioning Trump's commitment to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire without providing further insight. The U.S. Treasury, tasked with implementing most U.S. sanctions, has yet to comment on the matter.
If signed into effect, these sanctions would follow Trump's Wednesday signing of a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, which he promoted as part of his peace initiative. If Trump eventually throws his weight behind these new sanctions, it would suggest a hardening of his stance towards Russia.
Sanctions have been piled on Russia since their 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and despite causing significant difficulty for their economy, Russia has managed to circumvent the sanctions to fund their war.
Trump has shown support for Moscow in the past, taking steps to boost Russiain acceptance of his peace efforts, such as disbanding a Justice Department task force enforcing sanctions and targeting oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
Yet, Trump's efforts to end the conflict have stalled, with Russia continuing to push forward. Kurt Volker, a former U.S. envoy to NATO, views these proposed sanctions as a way to put extra pressure on Russia.
"Putin keeps rejecting [Trump's peace offers]," Volker said. "This is the next phase of putting some pressure on Russia."
Overall, the G7 countries, including the U.S., have enforced extensive sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions have been a significant focus against energy-related entities, with measures such as price caps on Russian oil exports.
Recent developments include the introduction of new bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Congress, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which proposes additional trade-related measures if Russia does not cooperate with ceasefire efforts.
Economically, the sanctions have hit Russia hard, but they've managed to adapt by finding alternative trade partners and developing workaround strategies. Despite this, continued sanctions could prove to be a powerful weapon in the West's arsenal as they work to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
- The upcoming sanctions target state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom and major entities from the natural resources and banking sectors.
- Details about the new sanctions remain vague, but an anonymous administration official has confirmed the move and the National Security Council is working on "some set of more punitive actions" against Russia.
- Both Trump and a second U.S. official have confirmed that the decision to implement these sanctions lies with President Donald Trump.
- If signed into effect, these sanctions could be a sign of a hardening of Trump's stance towards Russia amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
- Sanctions have been a significant focus in policy-and-legislation against energy-related entities, with measures such as price caps on Russian oil exports.
- Recent bipartisan legislation, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, proposes additional trade-related measures if Russia does not cooperate with ceasefire efforts, adding another layer to existing sanctions in general-news.
