The Trump administration has finalized a major new sanctions package targeting Russia’s energy and financial sectors, though President Donald Trump’s approval remains uncertain as delicate Ukraine ceasefire negotiations continue, according to a Reuters report citing multiple senior U.S. officials. The proposed measures would significantly escalate pressure on state-owned Gazprom and other key entities in Russia’s natural resources and banking industries.
This development comes amid intense diplomatic maneuvering, with Moscow recently proposing a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8-10 that Kyiv immediately rejected as insufficient without a 30-day truce. The sanctions decision presents Trump with a crucial test of his administration’s Ukraine strategy, torn between congressional hardliners and his own negotiators’ efforts to broker a settlement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has openly cautioned against imposing new sanctions prematurely, warning this could derail diplomacy and potentially condemn the parties to “another two years of war.” This stance contrasts sharply with Senator Lindsey Graham’s claim that 72 senators now support “bone-crushing” sanctions if Russia resists meaningful peace talks.
The White House has not specified when Trump might decide on the sanctions package, leaving allies and adversaries alike guessing about America’s next move. The president faces competing pressures as he weighs the proposals against his administration’s controversial peace plan, which would reportedly recognize Russian control over Crimea and parts of four eastern Ukrainian regions while initiating phased sanctions relief.
With the conflict approaching its third year, the sanctions decision could either strengthen Washington’s negotiating position or harden Moscow’s stance. The National Security Council has completed its coordination of the measures, but as one senior official emphasized, final implementation remains “totally Trump’s call.” This uncertainty reflects broader tensions within the administration between those advocating maximum pressure and others prioritizing diplomatic solutions.
The proposed sanctions would build on restrictions first imposed after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and dramatically expanded following the 2022 escalation. Moscow has consistently denounced these measures as illegal, while U.S. officials describe them as essential leverage. As the diplomatic window narrows, the coming days may determine whether Washington chooses the path of economic escalation or continued negotiation in the protracted Ukraine crisis.
