Trump pauses: new sanctions against Russia only “at the right time”
25 June 2025 16:43
U.S. President Donald Trump is not currently planning to impose new sanctions against Russia, but according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he will “know the right time and place” to do so. Rubio said this in an interview with Politico, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“If we hit Russia with additional sanctions now, we will lose the opportunity to negotiate an end to the war. Who will talk to them about peace then?” the official said.
Rubio emphasized that the Trump administration is still maintaining diplomatic space for a potential peace agreement. But if the talks finally reach an impasse, economic measures may be resumed, which would signal that dialogue is no longer possible.
The G7, sanctions, and allied distrust
During the G7 summit in Canada on June 16, Trump explicitly stated that he would not increase sanctions against Russia until he sees progress in a peaceful settlement. He also noted that sanctions are a financial burden for the United States:
“It costs us billions. This is not a one-way traffic”.
According to Bloomberg, his position caused disappointment among his allies. During the summit, he repeatedly said that sanctions are too expensive for the US budget.
Amid this uncertainty, European countries are strengthening their own security cooperation and looking for alternative mechanisms to support Ukraine, while avoiding open confrontation with Washington.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had hoped to meet with Trump at the G7 to discuss new sanctions. However, Trump left the summit early, and the talks did not take place.
