U.S. President Donald Trump is currently considering the possibility of imposing new sanctions against Russia, reports the Wall Street Journal. According to sources within his circle, these measures could be implemented as early as this week. However, discussions are still ongoing, and no final decision has been made, as Trump may choose to forgo their implementation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
According to the publication, the new sanctions do not include additional restrictions on the Russian banking sector. Their aim is to secure concessions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly an agreement on a thirty-day ceasefire, which the U.S. administration insists upon. In his statements, Trump noted:
“We are in the process of negotiations, and he is launching rockets at Kyiv and other cities. I do not like that at all”
, the newspaper quotes him. This statement was made following reports of massive Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities.
Changes in Trump’s Position on Sanctions
In early May, Trump stated that he was considering the possibility of imposing new sanctions against Russia and criticized President Putin, stating: "I don’t understand what has happened to the Russian leader”. However, over the course of several weeks, his position shifted. According to U.S. officials, one reason was his belief that he knows Putin well and that the Russian leader would end the war as a favor. Nevertheless, after a phone call with Putin last week, during which Putin made it clear that he was not ready for a ceasefire with Ukraine, Trump’s position began to change.
At that time, a bill was already being considered in the U.S. Congress, introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, which proposes the introduction of new sanctions and high tariffs on imports of Russian oil, gas, and uranium. Support for this document has increased, and a majority of Senate members are in favor of it.