US President Donald Trump still hopes for an economic partnership with Russia and is in no hurry to introduce new sanctions, despite calls from some Republicans in Congress and advisers in the White House. This was reported by "Reuters" sources, who emphasize that Trump sees the sanctions as an escalation of tensions with Moscow, which could undermine efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Despite his growing irritation with the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump is still considering different options for pressure. According to the sources, Trump is seriously intrigued by the possibility of new sanctions after Russia stepped up its attacks on Ukraine.
"He always looks for different ways to put pressure, this is no exception", commented a senior White House official.
In response to a question about why he has not imposed new sanctions, Trump said that he did not want to derail a potential peace agreement. "If I think I'm close to a deal, I don't want to derail it," he said, hinting at the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution.
One of the options his advisers are discussing includes a bill proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. The bill would impose a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil.
There are disagreements within the White House over the approach to Russia, with some advisers pushing for tougher measures while others are proposing a more moderate approach that would not jeopardize potential economic relations.