Trump explains why he's holding off on new Russia sanctions
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The United States of America is not imposing sanctions on Russia, allegedly because it is waiting for a peace deal to be reached regarding the full-scale war in Ukraine, says US President Donald Trump during a conversation with journalists at the G7 summit.
When asked whether Washington supports Europe's call to introduce new sanctions against Russia, Trump replied that Europe is talking about it, but hasn't done anything.
When asked why Washington itself isn't imposing new sanctions against the terrorist state, Trump said he was "waiting to see whether or not a deal" would be signed. He also complained that sanctions are supposedly costly for the US.
"Don’t forget, you know, sanctions cost us a lot of money. When I sanction a country, that costs the US a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street," he explained.
Sanctions against Russia
Sanctions on Russia have become one of the tools of international pressure aimed at weakening its economic and political influence. They target various areas - from finance and technology to personal restrictions on specific individuals and companies.
The sanctions are gradually expanding. At the same time, countries imposing them are trying to close loopholes that allow Russia to bypass restrictions.
Back in late May, Senator Lindsey Graham proposed a bill introducing new US sanctions against Russia. The document envisions a 500% tariff on countries that continue to buy oil, gas, uranium, and other products from Russia.
In early June, US Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, claimed that US sanctions against Russia were ready and that both Congress and the White House were prepared to approve them.
