US completes new sanctions plan against Russia, decision up to Trump

According to three officials and a source familiar with the matter, US officials have completed the development of new economic sanctions against Russia, including banking and energy measures. The aim is to increase pressure on Moscow and force it to support US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Targeted sectors include the state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom, as well as large companies operating in natural resources and the banking sector, said an administration official on condition of anonymity.

At the same time, it is unclear whether Trump will approve the sanctions package, as his sympathy for Moscow's statements and actions shifted to frustration over President Vladimir Putin's disregard for his calls for a ceasefire and peace talks.

The US National Security Council is “trying to coordinate some set of more punitive actions against Russia,” said the source familiar with the issue. “This will have to be signed off by Trump.”

“It’s totally his call,” confirmed a second US official.

"From the beginning, the president has been clear about his commitment to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire," said National Security Council Spokesman James Hewitt. "We do not comment on the details of ongoing negotiations."

Trump’s approval of the new sanctions, which would follow the signing of a US-Ukraine deal on minerals on Wednesday, a deal he actively promoted as part of his peace efforts, could signal a hardening of his stance toward the Kremlin.

Putin in isolation

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US and its allies have imposed numerous sanctions on Moscow. Despite significant economic pressure, the Russian government continues to find ways to circumvent restrictions and fund its military actions.

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said the current US administration under President Trump is taking additional measures to increase pressure on the Kremlin.

Trump "has been bending over backwards to give Putin every opportunity to say, 'Okay, we're going to have a ceasefire and an end to the war,' and Putin keeps rejecting him," he said.

According to Volker, the US and Ukraine now present a united front calling for an immediate and comprehensive cessation of hostilities, while Putin remains isolated.

Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has made a series of moves perceived as attempts to push Russia toward a peaceful resolution. For example, he disbanded a special group within the Justice Department tasked with enforcing sanctions and prosecuting Russian oligarchs. At the same time, Trump made statements implying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was responsible for starting the war without providing evidence.

Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is promoting a peace plan that involves transferring four Ukrainian regions to Russia. Witkoff has met with Putin four times, with the last meeting taking place last week.

However, just three days after the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's ultimatums, and Russian forces continued their missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, resulting in new civilian casualties.

Sanctions pressure

In March, Reuters reported that the US was considering the possibility of partially lifting sanctions on Russia. However, recently, President Trump has expressed frustration with the Kremlin's unwillingness to make concessions.

Last Saturday, he held a "very productive" personal meeting with President Zelenskyy in the Vatican. The following day, Trump announced on the social media platform Truth Social that he was "seriously considering implementing massive banking sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs against Russia" that would remain in place until a ceasefire and final peace agreement are signed.

Russia continues to receive currency inflows from oil and gas exports to countries such as India and China. As a result, Trump highlighted the importance of a potential decision regarding secondary sanctions. These measures target third countries that cooperate with sanctioned states by limiting their access to the US market. This mechanism is seen as one of the most effective tools for economic influence due to the scale of the US economy.

Earlier, Donald Trump expressed his desire to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia for at least 30 days.

However, the Kremlin continues its aggressive war and large-scale attacks on Ukraine. According to media reports, the US is considering "hard choices" due to the behavior of Putin.