U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to impose more sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not end the ongoing war in Ukraine. This comes after Trump recently announced sanctions targeting major Russian oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, marking the first such actions since he returned to office in January.
U.S. officials are discussing additional sanctions that could affect Russia’s banking sector and its oil infrastructure. They have also suggested that European allies should consider using frozen Russian assets to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine. There are internal discussions in Washington about leveraging Russian assets held in the U.S. to support Ukraine’s efforts in the conflict.
While it remains uncertain when or if these new sanctions will be enacted, the administration has a clear plan ready to increase pressure on Russia. European leaders are hopeful that Trump will continue to intensify actions against Moscow, especially as they consider their own measures.
Recent sanctions have already caused a spike in oil prices, prompting countries like China and India to seek alternatives to Russian crude. Some U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a bipartisan sanctions bill that has been stalled for some time, and Trump appears open to endorsing it, though such an endorsement is not expected soon.
Ukrainian officials have proposed more aggressive sanctions, including cutting off Russian banks from the U.S. dollar system. However, it is unclear how seriously these suggestions are being considered by U.S. officials.
In a recent twist, Trump had a conversation with Putin and announced plans for a meeting in Budapest, which surprised Ukraine. After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump seemed to shift his stance, suggesting a freeze in the conflict at current frontlines instead of pursuing territorial concessions.
Despite the complexities of international diplomacy, Trump decided to move forward with sanctions during a meeting with key advisors. Meanwhile, the U.S. has shifted its approval process for providing targeting data to Ukraine, which is seen as a more aggressive stance against Russia.
The U.S. is urging Europe to take stronger actions against Russia, but the European Union faces challenges in fully sanctioning companies like Lukoil due to their deep ties to the European economy. As the situation develops, both the U.S. and its allies are weighing their next steps carefully.
