US to announce ‘substantial’ Russia sanctions

The US government will impose a “significant increase” in sanctions against Russia as the conflict in Ukraine continues, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Bessent’s comments come just ahead of a visit to the White House by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where he said he hoped to discuss “how to deliver” on Trump’s “vision for peace” in the conflict.

Earlier in the day, Rutte said he believed Trump was “the only one who can make this happen.”

Just hours after Trump said plans to meet with Vladimir Putin in Budapest had been shelved, at least seven people, including two children, were killed during Russia’s intense drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

Bessent did not provide further details on the upcoming sanctions, but said they would be announced “either after the close of this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning.”

US lawmakers, including Republicans, are awaiting approval from the White House to vote on a bill that would impose tough sanctions against Russia and also target countries that buy oil from the Kremlin.

At the White House, Rutte was expected to discuss a 12-point plan formulated by European NATO allies and Kiev, which calls for a freeze on existing front lines, the return of deported children and prisoner exchanges between the two warring countries.

The plan also includes a war recovery fund for Ukraine, as well as security pathways and a clear path for Ukraine to join the EU, as well as increased military aid to Kiev and economic pressure on Moscow.

Earlier this week, Trump said he did not want a “wasted meeting” with Putin in Budapest and suggested the main sticking point was Moscow’s refusal to stop fighting on the current front line.

A preparatory meeting was planned to be held this week between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, but the White House said that the two had a “productive” meeting and that the meeting was no longer “necessary”.

Trump had previously approved proposals to freeze conflicts on existing front lines.

“Let it be cut as it is,” he said Monday. “I said: Cut the battle line and stop. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people.”

Russia opposed this idea, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “the consistency of Russia’s position has not changed.” This was a reference to the desire of Ukrainian troops to leave the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Trump also disputed a Wall Street Journal report that the United States had approved Ukraine’s long-range missile attacks on Russia, calling it “fake news.”

Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky has expressed the United States’ desire to provide its forces with long-range US Tomahawk missiles and suggested that the threat of introducing them into the battlefield could bring Russia to the negotiating table.