Trump Resists European Push for New Russia Sanctions

Despite mounting pressure from European allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Trump administration is holding off on introducing new sanctions against Russia — for now. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington still sees a window for diplomacy and doesn’t want to risk closing the door on potential ceasefire talks with Moscow, The Gaze reports, citing Politico.

Speaking at the NATO summit, Rubio explained that sanctioning Russia further would be a tacit admission that negotiations are no longer viable. “If [Trump] does it, you’re almost admitting that this is not going to be negotiated anytime soon,” Rubio said.

The comments come as frustration grows in European capitals over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued refusal to engage in ceasefire discussions. European leaders and Zelenskyy had hoped to use the NATO gathering to push President Trump toward tougher economic measures targeting Moscow’s war machine.

But Rubio emphasized that Trump wants to retain “flexibility” to negotiate, and is coordinating with Congress to ensure future sanctions don’t undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts.

“Trump will know the right time and place” to act, Rubio said, adding that when new sanctions come, they will mark a shift in U.S. strategy.

Meanwhile, Rubio acknowledged that talks with the Kremlin have largely stalled and that Moscow appears determined to achieve its goals militarily rather than diplomatically. 

“The Russians are going to try to achieve in the battlefield what they’ve demanded at the negotiating table — maintaining certain territorial lines,” he said.

Still, Rubio downplayed the likelihood of Russia succeeding in this approach, noting that the U.S. believes the Kremlin underestimates the difficulty of consolidating gains on the ground.

Read more on The Gaze: Are Ukraine’s Allies Ready to Take Sanctions Against Russia to the Next Level in 2025?