Donald Trump announced a temporary suspension of the implementation of new U
S. sanctions against the Russian Federation, citing the anticipation of a possible peace agreement between the conflicting parties as the reason for his decision. He made this statement during the G7 summit held in Canada, according to Ukraine’s public broadcaster "Suspilne." This news has attracted international attention, as it suggests a possible shift in U.S. policy towards Russia in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. In response to journalists’ questions about the prospects for supporting new sanctions, the European Union clearly stated: “Europe is discussing this, but has not yet taken corresponding steps.” Trump, for his part, emphasized that the U.S. currently does not plan to impose new restrictions and is waiting to see the results of negotiations and the potential signing of an agreement. “Right now, I am expecting the signing of a peace deal. We’ll see what happens next,” he said. Regarding sanctions specifically and their impact on the American budget, Trump highlighted: “Don’t forget, sanctions cost us a lot of money. When I impose them, it costs the United States billions of dollars. It’s not just paper decisions. Sanctions are very costly and affect our economy, so I am very cautious about this issue.” He also added that the process of imposing restrictions is complex and multifaceted, and cannot be implemented without careful analysis and preparation. Overall, Trump’s words evoke significant interest in the context of diplomatic efforts surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The former U.S. president also expressed his opinion in 2014 regarding Russia’s exclusion from the G8, which he considers a major strategic mistake. Trump emphasized that if Russia had remained in the G8, the war in Ukraine might not have occurred. He recalled that during his first term, he proposed re-admitting Russia into the group, and he repeated this idea at the beginning of his second term. Now, with his return to the White House and participation in the G7 summit, Trump does not hide his ambitions and plans regarding bilateral negotiations. In particular, he intends to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit to discuss current issues and explore possible diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict, which has lasted over a year and has sparked intense international discussion. Preparations for this meeting are underway in a tense atmosphere, as global concerns grow about diplomacy’s ability to avoid further escalation and achieve lasting peace. Thus, the Ukrainian and international communities are interested—will the U.S. position truly shift toward more moderate actions, or will Trump use this pause to develop new diplomatic strategies related to the situation around Ukraine? Only time will tell, as developments unfold in the coming days, and global political players’ maneuvers leave many open questions regarding the future of Ukrainian-Russian settlement.