Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian ballistic missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo 

U.S. Finalizes New Sanctions Against Russia as Trump Weighs Response to Ukraine War

May 2, 2025

U.S. officials have finalized a package of new economic sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy and banking, in an effort to pressure the Kremlin into accepting a ceasefire and engaging in peace talks to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The sanctions await final approval from President Donald Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to his proposed settlement framework.

Sanctions Target Major Russian Entities

According to administration sources, the finalized sanctions would affect:

• Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy giant.
• Major Russian banks and natural resources companies central to the country’s wartime economy.

While specific measures have not yet been disclosed, the sanctions are expected to tighten financial restrictions and potentially include secondary sanctions, which could penalize foreign countries and companies—such as those in India and China—for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas.

Trump’s Role and Shifting Stance

Despite previously expressing conciliatory views toward Moscow, Trump now appears increasingly willing to adopt punitive measures. The shift follows:

• Putin’s rejection of multiple ceasefire overtures.
• A meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the Vatican last Saturday, which Trump called “very productive.”
• A U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal signed Wednesday, promoted by Trump as part of his broader peace strategy.

National Security Council officials are coordinating with the Treasury Department, although final implementation of the sanctions package hinges on Trump’s approval. “It’s totally his call,” confirmed a U.S. official.

Background: U.S. Engagement in Ukraine Conflict

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has sought a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine war. His administration disbanded a Justice Department task force focused on enforcing Russia sanctions, and Trump has made several controversial statements favoring Moscow, including calling Zelenskiy a “dictator” and attributing blame for the conflict to Kyiv.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has met with Putin four times and has advanced a peace plan that includes ceding four Ukrainian regions to Russian control. However, recent Russian escalation—including missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities—has undercut diplomatic momentum.

Reaction and Implications

Former U.S. diplomat Kurt Volker, who served as special representative for Ukraine during Trump’s first term, noted that Trump is now “in alignment” with Ukraine’s demand for a full ceasefire and called new sanctions the “next phase” of U.S. pressure on Russia.

Should Trump approve the sanctions, they would mark a significant pivot in his administration’s strategy and signal a harder line against the Kremlin. The measures could be particularly impactful if secondary sanctions are enforced, given the central role of global energy trade in sustaining Russia’s wartime economy.

The U.S. Treasury has not commented publicly on the finalized package. The National Security Council emphasized that negotiations remain ongoing and declined to provide further details.