Trump Pauses Russia Sanctions to Keep Peace Talks Alive

US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to suspend several sanctions against Russia, saying he wants to keep Moscow engaged in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine and did not want to take steps that could push Moscow away from the bargaining table.

The decision came just two days before the sanctions were due to take effect, amid growing tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump also accused Zelensky of being unwilling to end the war, arguing that Ukraine could have secured a better deal two years ago.

Zelensky, however, warned that siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be a “historic mistake,” in remarks to NBC News on Sunday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sanctions suspension as a 60-day pause to assess their potential impact on the American and global economies.

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the move, calling it an “important and truly historic moment.” He argued that the sanctions, approved by the US Congress and signed into law by Trump in September, would have caused serious damage to the US and global markets.

The latest decision has intensified concerns among Ukraine and its European allies that Washington may be shifting its approach towards Moscow.

Relations between Washington and Kyiv have also been strained by a controversial arrangement involving Russian diesel imports, which Trump has said could help ease rising US energy prices amid the war involving Iran.

Ukraine and its European partners have criticised the prospect of purchasing Russian fuel, arguing that revenue from energy exports helps finance Moscow’s war effort.

Despite international sanctions, Russia has continued exporting substantial quantities of oil, particularly to China and India. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China accounts for about half of Russia’s crude oil exports, while India accounts for approximately 37%.

Zelensky has repeatedly called for tougher sanctions to restrict Russia’s ability to fund its military campaign. He has also maintained that Putin is not genuinely interested in peace, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Concerns over Washington’s position have been further heightened by disruptions to Starlink, the US-provided satellite communications system used by Ukrainian forces, which have affected Kyiv’s ability to defend against Russian attacks.

Trump’s latest move underscores the growing uncertainty surrounding US policy towards Russia and Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue amid deepening divisions among Western allies.