US, EU to discuss imposing new Russia sanctions
President Donald Trump, frustrated over failing to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, pushes for stronger US-EU discussions on fresh sanctions.
US and EU Move Closer on Russia Sanctions as Trump’s Frustration Grows
Washington: A high-stakes meeting is set for Monday in Washington as a team of European officials, led by EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan, arrives at the US Treasury to discuss new measures against Russia. The agenda: tightening economic pressure on Moscow, including the possibility of fresh sanctions. A person familiar with the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the consultations reflect mounting urgency as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year.
The planned session follows a series of calls among senior leaders. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, just a day after Vice President J.D. Vance had a conversation with her. Both exchanges were designed to pave the way for coordinated action.
For President Donald Trump, the moment comes at a time of growing impatience. Despite a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last month, Trump has failed to persuade the Kremlin to negotiate directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His August deadline for Russia to end its invasion has already lapsed, leaving him visibly frustrated and short on options.
The White House, State Department, and US Trade Representative will all join Monday’s meetings, signaling the weight Washington is placing on the effort. On the European side, experts in sanctions, energy, trade, and finance will sit at the table.
The urgency has been heightened by Russia’s actions since the Trump-Putin summit. Last month, Moscow launched a rare drone and missile barrage on western Ukraine, striking an American-owned electronics plant. The attack underscored both Russia’s resilience and the vulnerability of Western assets inside Ukraine.
Trump has been openly critical of Putin in recent weeks, showing flashes of anger, but he has so far stopped short of authorizing new US sanctions.
Behind those words lies a growing debate inside Washington. Some aides urge Trump to respond forcefully, arguing that failing to act risks signaling weakness. Others caution that new sanctions, without European alignment, may have limited bite.
Trump himself has pressed European leaders to do more. On Thursday, he urged them to cut their reliance on Russian oil, stressing that the Kremlin earned more than €1.1 billion in fuel sales from the EU in a single year. According to a White House official, he also called on Europe to apply economic pressure on China, which Washington believes is indirectly propping up Moscow’s war effort.
European leaders, meanwhile, have held their own meetings. Several capitals are now discussing the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine—an idea that has sparked alarm in Moscow. On Friday, Putin dismissed the proposal as “unacceptable” and warned that any foreign troops deployed while Russia’s invasion continues would be treated as “legitimate targets.”
For many in Washington and Brussels, the coming week will be a test of transatlantic unity. The war in Ukraine has already reshaped Europe’s security landscape, disrupted global energy markets, and drawn billions of dollars in aid. What remains uncertain is whether the United States and European Union can align their strategies enough to shift Putin’s calculations.
For now, officials on both sides of the Atlantic appear determined to try. Monday’s discussions may not yield immediate announcements, but they will signal that patience with Russia’s war—and with the Kremlin’s defiance—is running out.