US reducing sanctions enforcement against Russia, says EU
Washington has reportedly been “unresponsive” in working groups focused on monitoring restrictions. The White House has reportedly reduced its role in enforcing sanctions against Russia as it seeks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, according...
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Washington has reportedly been “unresponsive” in working groups focused on monitoring restrictions.
The White House has reportedly reduced its role in enforcing sanctions against Russia as it seeks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, according to anonymous EU officials cited by Bloomberg.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Washington and Brussels have imposed a range of sanctions against Russia aimed at isolating the country. These measures include a ban on Russia’s seaborne oil shipments, severing its ties to the Western financial system, freezing foreign reserves, and various other restrictions.
However, since President Donald Trump took office, the US has largely been absent from several working groups established to address Moscow’s attempts to circumvent these sanctions, the officials revealed to the outlet.
They reported that the US has been notably “unresponsive” in a group focused on preventing Russia from obtaining parts and equipment for weapons production. Additionally, Washington has reportedly fallen silent in another working group that monitors and enforces the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil sales.
According to Bloomberg, officials are unsure if Washington has purposefully reduced its involvement or if it is simply dealing with a shortage of key personnel. They observed that some meetings have been attended by lower-level representatives with limited decision-making authority.
In related news, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed President Trump’s previous statements, asserting that the US could increase sanctions against Russia if negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict do not succeed. “We will be able to get [Moscow] to the table without increasing the sanctions, but all options are on the table,” he said.
Despite this, EU officials noted little indication of preparations to toughen sanctions, and it remains uncertain what actions, if any, the US is taking to combat the evasion of existing measures, according to Bloomberg.
Moscow has consistently criticized the Western sanctions as illegal, arguing that they have failed to destabilize the Russian economy or isolate the nation. Instead, the Kremlin contends they have backfired on the countries that imposed them.
President Vladimir Putin remarked on Tuesday that despite foreign pressure, the national economy has shown greater resilience and continues to grow. During a meeting with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow, he accused the West of using the Ukraine conflict as a cover to eliminate Russia as a competitor.
Olivia Brown contributed to this article for TROIB News
The White House has reportedly reduced its role in enforcing sanctions against Russia as it seeks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, according to anonymous EU officials cited by Bloomberg.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Washington and Brussels have imposed a range of sanctions against Russia aimed at isolating the country. These measures include a ban on Russia’s seaborne oil shipments, severing its ties to the Western financial system, freezing foreign reserves, and various other restrictions.
However, since President Donald Trump took office, the US has largely been absent from several working groups established to address Moscow’s attempts to circumvent these sanctions, the officials revealed to the outlet.
They reported that the US has been notably “unresponsive” in a group focused on preventing Russia from obtaining parts and equipment for weapons production. Additionally, Washington has reportedly fallen silent in another working group that monitors and enforces the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil sales.
According to Bloomberg, officials are unsure if Washington has purposefully reduced its involvement or if it is simply dealing with a shortage of key personnel. They observed that some meetings have been attended by lower-level representatives with limited decision-making authority.
In related news, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed President Trump’s previous statements, asserting that the US could increase sanctions against Russia if negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict do not succeed. “We will be able to get [Moscow] to the table without increasing the sanctions, but all options are on the table,” he said.
Despite this, EU officials noted little indication of preparations to toughen sanctions, and it remains uncertain what actions, if any, the US is taking to combat the evasion of existing measures, according to Bloomberg.
Moscow has consistently criticized the Western sanctions as illegal, arguing that they have failed to destabilize the Russian economy or isolate the nation. Instead, the Kremlin contends they have backfired on the countries that imposed them.
President Vladimir Putin remarked on Tuesday that despite foreign pressure, the national economy has shown greater resilience and continues to grow. During a meeting with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow, he accused the West of using the Ukraine conflict as a cover to eliminate Russia as a competitor.
Olivia Brown contributed to this article for TROIB News
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