U.S. Prepares Broader Sanctions Against Russia Amid Stalemate in Ukraine
The United States is preparing a new wave of sanctions targeting key sectors of Russia’s economy if President Vladimir Putin continues to delay peace efforts in Ukraine, according to sources familiar with internal discussions.
Officials confirmed that the proposed measures could include additional restrictions on Russian banks and oil infrastructure, signaling Washington’s readiness to escalate economic pressure.
The move comes just days after President Donald Trump announced the first major sanctions on Russia since returning to office in January—targeting energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft, which triggered a 5% surge in global oil prices.
Washington Pushes Europe to Step Up Against Moscow
Sources say the Trump administration has urged European partners to take a stronger stance, including exploring ways to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian defense efforts.
One senior U.S. official told Reuters that “it’s time for Europe to make the next move,” suggesting that future U.S. actions could depend on European resolve.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have privately proposed sweeping new sanctions—such as cutting all Russian banks off from the U.S. dollar system—though it remains unclear how seriously these measures are being considered in Washington.
Banking and Energy in the Crosshairs
Among the options under review are sanctions on Russian financial institutions and restrictions on oil export logistics, both of which would intensify the economic isolation of Moscow.
These measures would mark a major escalation in the economic warfare strategy that has defined Western policy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.
In parallel, the U.S. Senate is revisiting a bipartisan sanctions bill, with insiders saying Trump is “open to endorsing” the package—though no final decision is expected this month.
A Week of Diplomatic Whiplash
The sanctions debate comes after a turbulent week in U.S. foreign policy, marked by conflicting signals from the White House.
President Trump initially announced plans to meet with Putin in Budapest, surprising Kyiv. Days later, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, where U.S. officials reportedly urged territorial concessions in the Donbas region—a proposal Zelenskyy rejected.
The White House later confirmed the planned Trump-Putin summit was “off,” with Trump citing that “it just didn’t feel right.”
Analysts say Trump’s diplomatic overtures reflect his effort to translate his Middle East ceasefire success into progress on the Ukraine conflict, though results so far have been mixed.
U.S. Strategy Shifts to Europe and the Battlefield
Behind the scenes, Washington is increasing military and intelligence coordination with European allies. The approval process for Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia has been shifted to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) in Germany — a move insiders interpret as signaling a tougher U.S. stance on Moscow.
Despite pressure from Kyiv, however, Trump has resisted sending Tomahawk missiles, saying the U.S. is “not ready for that step yet.”
Europe Faces Challenges in Following Washington’s Lead
While the U.S. Treasury has urged Europe to match its sanctions, European officials caution that it will be far more complicated.
Companies like Lukoil, deeply embedded in Europe’s energy infrastructure with refineries in Bulgaria and Romania, make full-scale EU sanctions politically and economically difficult.
“We need to find a way to disengage before we can fully sanction,” one senior EU official said, reflecting the continent’s cautious approach to decoupling from Russian energy.
The Road Ahead
For now, the Trump administration appears poised to pause new sanctions, awaiting Moscow’s reaction to Wednesday’s measures and Europe’s next move.
However, with Ukraine urging stronger action, and Russia showing little sign of retreat, pressure is mounting for Washington and its allies to act decisively.
As one Ukrainian diplomat put it:
“Dismantling Russia’s war machine is the most humane way to bring this war to an end.”
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