Trump Administration Considers Partial Lifting of Sanctions Against Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

The U.S. administration announced plans to reassess certain sanctions imposed on Russia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that the potential lifting of specific sanctions is under consideration, contingent upon the evolving situation in Ukraine. This announcement comes as part of President Trump’s broader strategy to address the ongoing conflict in the region.

Bessent emphasized the administration’s aim to foster closer economic ties with Ukraine while garnering support from the American public. He indicated that the United States is prepared to invite Russia to engage in negotiations, asserting that the removal of sanctions could be possible if specific conditions are met.

Contrasting this approach, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed European allies on February 19, 2025, that sanctions against Russia would remain in place until a peace agreement regarding Ukraine is achieved. This statement underscores the linkage between sanction relief and progress in diplomatic discussions.

In response to the U.S. stance, Elvira Nabiullina, head of the Central Bank of Russia, stated that she was unaware of any negotiations concerning the potential lifting of sanctions. She clarified that the Central Bank is not involved in such discussions but continues efforts to recover assets frozen abroad.

Analysts suggest that any potential partial lifting of sanctions could involve the cancellation or waiver of secondary sanctions affecting third countries that engage with Russian banks under sanction. Additionally, there are discussions regarding the limited resumption of operations for international payment systems like Visa and Mastercard in the Russian market for banks not subject to sanctions.

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce highlighted that both the U.S. and Russia have agreed to explore collaborations on geopolitical issues and economic opportunities that may emerge from a successful resolution of the conflict.