Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire have criticized former President Trump for delaying sanctions against Russia during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. They’ve expressed concerns that, while Trump is campaigning on resolving this conflict quickly, peace talks haven’t yielded any significant progress so far.
In their recent report, they noted, “Six months later, our allies and enemies alike are left in suspense, watching whether President Trump will act on his delayed and ongoing threats against Russia.” They questioned whether his administration’s measures would be effectively targeted at Russia and its supporters.
Warren and Shaheen pointed out that the future remains uncertain but highlighted a clear pattern of inaction from the Trump administration over the past six months. They urged that American citizens should be aware of the President’s reluctance to fully utilize his authority to put an end to the Russian aggression.
The White House has not yet replied to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
Recently, Trump issued a warning about increasing sanctions on Russian oil and gas buyers if a ceasefire isn’t established after over three years of conflict. Yet, Warren and Shaheen accused him of merely supporting basic sanctions when he returned to office, claiming a group of seven leaders lacked commitment after rejecting strategies aimed at tightening Russian sanctions and stopping oil exports.
Data reviewed by minority staff reveals that during the first six months of Trump’s second term, not a single deployment against Russia occurred, a stark decline from at least 16 actions taken in the previous six months.
Before his presidency, senior officials in the Trump administration had pushed the Biden administration to enforce stricter limitations on Russian oil exports, a crucial revenue stream for the Kremlin. However, since Trump’s presidency began, there has been a failure to strengthen sanctions on Russian oil. Experts have noted, though, that there are still avenues for imposing sanctions that could limit Russia’s oil income without drastically affecting global or U.S. energy prices.
Furthermore, the Trump administration seems to have stepped back, leaving the UK and European Union to take stronger measures concerning Russian oil.
As Russian forces continue their attacks on Ukraine, they remain unconvinced by Trump’s threats of severe sanctions. Dmitry Medvedev, vice-chairman of Russia’s Security Council, remarked, “Trump has made his threats, and now the world waits anxiously to see the outcome,” commenting on Trump’s warnings of “serious” tariffs.
Medvedev expressed disappointment with Europe, stating that Russia is unfazed by Trump’s stance.
While some Republican lawmakers have contemplated imposing economic sanctions on Russia, they have left those decisions largely up to Trump, who believes his rapport with Putin may help navigate the situation. Senator Mike Rounds remarked that Trump appears cautious in his dealings with Putin but is now acknowledging that many concerns about the Russian leader were justified.
Putin has shown little willingness to negotiate a ceasefire unless certain territories in Ukraine are relinquished to Russia. Instead of a direct economic hit to Russia, Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on India by 25%, which is a significant trading partner of Moscow, just before a meeting between a special envoy and Putin.
Warren and Shaheen are pressing for more decisive actions from the Trump administration, asserting that it should demonstrate a united front against Russia—one that signals a commitment to achieving a fair peace while maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity.
They suggested that aside from engaging with G7 partners, who have not labeled Russia as an invader, the Trump administration has reportedly granted a wide range of sanctions relief, despite other concessions, without fully collaborating with allies who are implementing unprecedented sanctions and export limitations.
Democrats warned that this approach primarily benefits the Kremlin, which seeks to exploit divisions between the U.S. and Europe.
