Trump pauses planned Russia sanctions to sustain Ukraine war talks
Donald Trump says he suspended several planned sanctions on Russia to keep Moscow engaged in negotiations over the war in Ukraine. The move came as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorated, raising questions about US policy towards Russia and its support for Ukraine.
Trump said he did not want to drive Russia away from the bargaining table and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war. Zelensky has said he wants the fighting to stop and that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seek peace; he also warned that siding with Putin would be a “historic mistake”. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the suspension, while Ukraine has accused the Trump administration of withdrawing key military support.
- Trump says pausing sanctions could keep Russia in peace talks.
- The decision came amid worsening US-Ukraine relations.
- Zelensky says Putin does not want peace.
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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, after years of conflict between the two countries. The United States has supported Ukraine with military aid and has used sanctions to restrict Russia’s access to money, trade and technology.
Donald Trump is the US president, Volodymyr Zelensky leads Ukraine and Vladimir Putin leads Russia. Kirill Dmitriev is a Russian envoy involved in contacts with the US. The countries’ positions matter because any negotiations over the war involve decisions about Ukraine’s security, Russia’s demands and the role of outside supporters.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pausing sanctions could preserve space for negotiations by avoiding steps Moscow might treat as proof that Washington is unwilling to bargain. If sanctions are a source of leverage, holding some back may give US officials options to use them later while pursuing an end to the fighting and limiting further loss of life.
The case against
Lifting or delaying pressure may reduce the cost to Moscow of continuing the war and weaken the leverage needed to secure meaningful concessions. For Ukraine, the move may also signal that US support is uncertain, potentially strengthening Russia’s position in talks and making a durable, fair settlement harder to achieve.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Trump says suspension of Russia sanctions is to keep peace negotiations going”.