The United States Congress is awaiting a concrete decision from President Donald Trump regarding the strengthening of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The urgent need for new restrictions was stated by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who emphasized:
This is reported by Business • Media
“Congress cannot unilaterally impose sanctions against the Russian Federation, as the president’s signature is required for that.”
Congress’s Position and New Initiatives on Sanctions
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham noted that the existing sanctions against Russia have nearly exhausted their potential, as Moscow has learned to circumvent most of them. In this regard, he introduced a new bill that establishes restrictions for countries that continue to purchase Russian products, including oil. Graham also urged European countries to join the United States in imposing sanctions against India and China.
Trump Hesitates on Sanctions and Doubts Their Impact on Putin
President Trump criticized the European Union’s sanctions against Russia, calling them “not strict enough.” He expressed a willingness to strengthen American restrictions but set a condition: similar steps must be taken by Europe and NATO, as well as a cessation of Russian oil purchases. However, according to The New York Times, this requirement is unrealistic, considering that key buyers of Russian oil—Hungary and Turkey—are unlikely to abandon imports. Trump has repeatedly announced his intention to impose new sanctions but has reserved the option to back out of this step at any moment.
According to sources, Trump expresses doubts about his own ability to influence Putin’s position. He confided to his trusted aides that he misjudged the Russian leader’s willingness for compromise and peace. The New York Times materials also highlight that while Trump often claims the ability to achieve peace in the world, in critical situations he demonstrates detachment and avoids specific actions.
The reaction of the US president to the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones—one of the loudest cases of border violations by NATO in recent years—has been particularly ambiguous. Despite years of assurances from Washington regarding security guarantees for Alliance countries, the official position of the White House only emerged after Trump’s personal post.
In light of this, experts believe that a decisive response from the US, as a NATO leader and nuclear power, could have a crucial impact on Russia’s position.