Trump expressed a readiness for imposing fresh Russia sanctions - Trump expresses readiness for imposing fresh sanctions on Russia
In a series of recent conversations, US President Donald Trump has hinted at the potential imposition of new sanctions on Russia, following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict. However, as of now, no new measures have been implemented.
During a call on July 5, 2025, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with his conversation with Putin, stating, "We talk about sanctions a lot," and adding that Putin "understands that it may be coming." This remark suggests that new sanctions could be forthcoming, depending on the developments in Trump's discussions with Putin.
However, Trump's administration has been resistant to escalating sanctions, as stated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio explained that increasing sanctions too soon would signal an end to peace talks, as sanctioning Moscow would imply admitting that a ceasefire is unlikely in the near future. Rubio emphasized the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open before making any new sanctions decisions.
Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has reportedly been pushing to lift existing U.S. energy sanctions on Russia, reflecting a complex stance on sanction policies. Additionally, Senate Democrats have launched investigations into Trump's pause on sanctioning Russia.
During the same period, Trump also held a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), and the conversation reportedly focused on the delivery of Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine. Merz expressed his belief that "the Ukrainians need to be protected."
Trump and Zelensky held a strategic conversation on an unspecified date, but no progress was made towards ending the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This call took place amid concerns in Kyiv that US military aid might decrease.
In the initial phase of his term, Trump did not impose new penalties against Moscow due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, Trump did not make a decision on the delivery of Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine during the conversation.
Following the call, Russia launched the heaviest nighttime attacks on Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. Despite these escalations, it remains unclear when, or if, new sanctions will be imposed on Russia.
In light of these escalating tensions and ongoing discussions, the Presidents of the Council, Commission, and European Parliament might be expected to deliberate on potential policy-and-legislation responses to the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in relation to President Trump's hints about new sanctions on Russia. Concurrently, general-news outlets may report on the political implications of such decisions, as they could impact diplomatic relationships and peace talks. In this context, the President of the Commission may play a significant role in advocating for or against the imposition of new sanctions under the policy-and-legislation agenda.
