While the European Union pushes forward with its 17th sanctions package against Russia, hoping to pressure Vladimir Putin into peace talks, the United States has stalled. And it’s not due to a lack of political will in Congress. The real roadblock is in the White House — and it’s called Donald Trump, backed by a Republican Party too scared to challenge him.
Back in April, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025” — a robust sanctions package designed to take effect if the Kremlin continues to reject peace negotiations over Ukraine or attempts to sabotage them. The proposal even brought together bitter rivals in the Senate: 75% supported it, including 39 Republicans, 35 Democrats, and one Independent.
Known for his transatlantic stance, Graham told The Wall Street Journal at the time:
“The Russians are playing games with us… I still prefer negotiations and hope President Trump will take them seriously. But if he doesn’t, the Senate will act decisively to hit Russia hard. We can’t let this go on forever.”
But nothing has moved since. The bill has gathered dust in committee. While EU foreign ministers on Tuesday adopted yet another sanctions package and announced plans for the next one, Washington remains silent — even after a much-hyped phone call between Trump and Putin turned out to be a major flop, as The New York Times reported. If not now, when?
A Climate of Fear
Why is the bill stalled? Simply put: Trump is blocking it, and senators are afraid to defy him. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, spoke candidly about this climate of fear back in April:
“We’re all afraid,” she admitted at a town hall in Alaska. “I’m often very nervous and think twice before I stand against Trump.”
That fear likely explains Lindsey Graham’s dramatic transformation — from vocal Trump critic to obedient loyalist, a shift that has long intrigued the American media.
Now, Graham’s strategy is to talk without acting. He’s not alone. Senator John Thune, the Republican Senate Majority Leader, also acknowledged the bill’s popularity but hesitated:
“We have a bill that’s ready and enjoys overwhelming support,” he said. “But we need a green light from the White House.”
Once again, it’s clear that Trump has sidelined Congress — despite its constitutional role in shaping foreign policy. Republicans criticize Putin publicly, but their actions remain toothless. They deny their own convictions to avoid clashing with Trump, fearing it could cost them politically. In many ways, they’ve already surrendered.
What Did Trump Hear from Putin?
Graham’s bill is designed to strike at the heart of the Russian economy — something Trump once loudly supported. But now, his stance has changed dramatically. After his phone call with Putin, Trump claimed:
“I believe there’s a chance to accomplish something. Sanctions now would be a bad idea.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this on Tuesday:
“If we start threatening with sanctions, the Russians will stop talking.”
According to this logic, sanctions would undermine talks, not strengthen them. And that’s despite the fact that Moscow’s lack of interest in peace is well documented. Instead of pressing Putin, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged, Trump agreed with key elements of the Kremlin’s position: negotiations — yes; ceasefire — no; U.S. mediation — absolutely not.
According to The New York Times, Trump didn’t even bring up sanctions during his more-than-two-hour conversation with Putin. On his Truth Social platform, he simply wrote:
“The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent.”
EU Leaders Baffled
EU leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who participated in the conference call between Trump and Zelensky, were reportedly “surprised” by Trump’s interpretation of the Putin conversation. According to Axios:
“Trump seemed quite satisfied with what he heard from Putin and framed it as a breakthrough, even though the Russian leader didn’t appear to have shifted his stance at all,” said EU sources familiar with the call.
Business Over Ukraine
So why is Trump really avoiding sanctions? The answer was suggested by one of his advisors in The New York Times:
“Sanctions wouldn’t just disrupt negotiations with Russia,” the advisor said. “They’d jeopardize future U.S. business interests in Russia.”
This, ultimately, reveals the underlying motive: to protect future American business opportunities in a postwar Russia, Trump is deliberately avoiding pressure on Putin — and driving a wedge deeper into NATO unity, widening the gap between the U.S. and the EU.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul continues to express hope that Republicans might still support sanctions against Russia. But for now, this seems more like diplomatic optimism than a realistic scenario.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Der Spiegel. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Der Spiegel.
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