SOCHI, RUSSIA - MARCH 16: Russia President Vladimir Putin waves during the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on March 16, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
The United States is reportedly preparing to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as President Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stop the war in Ukraine, a US official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters. This comes as Trump had said last week that he is “strongly considering” imposing sweeping sanctions, including ones on banking, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Moscow was now responding to negotiations after Kyiv accepted a 30-day US-brokered ceasefire with Russia. Upon Ukraine’s acceptance, Washington agreed to resume sharing military aid and intelligence with Kyiv.
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In a Feb. 20 interview with Bloomberg Television, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Russia could secure economic relief based on its approach to upcoming negotiations. On Feb. 26, Trump told reporters that Russian sanctions might be relaxed “at some point.”
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According to the sources, the White House has directed the State and Treasury Departments to compile a list of sanctions that might be lifted for upcoming discussions with Russian officials as part of broader efforts to enhance diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow.
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Sanctions imposed by the Biden administration have significantly impacted Russia’s economy and undermined its defense industry. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed openness to negotiating sanction relief as part of his efforts toward securing a peace agreement.
Trump could issue an executive order to begin easing some sanctions on Russia. However, he would also need congressional approval to remove restrictions on specific entities.
Last year, the Kremlin characterized its relationship with the Biden administration as “below zero,” criticizing the Democrat president for supporting Ukraine with aid and weapons while enforcing stringent sanctions on Russia in response to its 2022 invasion. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, US sanctions have targeted the country’s vast oil and gas sector, aiming to reduce its revenue and hinder its capacity to finance the war.
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