Future of U
S. sanctions policy towards Russia: Trump made a surprising statement In recent months, tensions have been rising regarding sanctions diplomacy between the United States and Russia. However, the situation has now taken a new turn: former U.S. President Donald Trump has returned to the topic and stated that in the near future, America does not plan to intensify existing restrictions against Moscow. Trump's explosive comment came in the context of his recent two-hour conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place the day before. According to the politician, there is still a chance for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, and the strengthening of sanctions could be postponed, but their ultimate application will never be completely canceled. He announced this in an interview with CNN, emphasizing that he currently has no intention to tighten restrictions, as there is a possibility of finding common ground and achieving some progress. At the same time, he does not rule out that such measures could be taken in the future, and underscores the importance of caution, noting that unnecessary steps now "could make things much worse." The main precondition for this decision was a recent telephone conversation Trump had with the Kremlin leader on May 19. According to information published by the media, this two-hour dialogue took place on the eve of discussions regarding appropriate sanctions by Washington. Moreover, right after the conversation, Trump made a sensational statement that Ukraine and Russia would "immediately" begin negotiations to end the war. This caused significant resonance in diplomatic circles, as this step indicates the U.S. intention to intensify efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is ready to work on signing a memorandum with Ukraine, which could include a ceasefire for a certain period. He also noted that contacts between Ukrainian and Russian sides, which occurred in Istanbul, "have resumed," giving grounds for hope for progress in the diplomatic process. The key leverage in this diplomatic game is the phone call with Zelensky before his conversation with Putin, during which Trump spoke with the Ukrainian leader for several minutes. This added additional context and weight to the goals of swift negotiations in the conflict in eastern Ukraine and similar situations. It is worth noting that Trump’s decision not to tighten sanctions was unexpected for analysts and diplomats. It indicates an effort to maintain the possibility of diplomatic dialogue and a probable search for compromises. However, the politician also emphasizes that if progress cannot be achieved, the U.S. reserves the right to revert to more strict measures, including strengthening sanctions regimes. Overall, this statement can be seen as a signal of a change in Washington’s diplomatic approach concerning the Ukraine-Russia conflict. For now, the U.S. administration demonstrates caution and a desire to seek a compromise, while leaving the door open for the application of stricter sanctions in the future. The buzz around this topic continues, and political analysts are already preparing for new discussions and possible decisions that could significantly influence the dynamics of the conflict and the prospects for peace in Ukraine.