The US Senate demands an explanation for the 17-month pause in sanctions against those who help Russia circumvent restrictions

Influential Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Christopher Coons are demanding that the administration of US President Donald Trump explain why Washington has not imposed new targeted sanctions against companies, banks and other entities that help Russia circumvent existing restrictions for 17 months.

The senators sent a corresponding letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, Reuters reports.

Senators talk about 17 months without new sanctions

Warren and Coons drew attention to the fact that targeted sanctions against entities that help Moscow circumvent the already imposed restrictions have not been imposed for 17 months.

Washington introduced the last large-scale sanctions package against Russia in October 2025. Then, the US Treasury Department imposed restrictions on, in particular, Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.

However, the senators consider this step to be an exception, while Russia continues to use various mechanisms to circumvent sanctions.

According to the data they provided, from the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in February 2022 until Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the United States imposed 111 packages of sanctions against Russia.

Trump explained the pause by negotiations

The senators recalled the statement of Scott Bessant, who in February explained the lack of new sanctions by the administration’s desire to first assess the prospects for peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

However, Warren and Coons draw attention to the fact that the negotiation process did not bring the expected result.

Moreover, back in May, Marco Rubio admitted that there was no significant progress in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Against this background, the senators ask why Washington did not return to regular sanctions pressure on Moscow.

Rubio and Bessant must respond by August 28

Warren and Coons asked administration officials to explain the reasons for the long pause and the White House’s position on further sanctions by August 28.

According to the senators, new restrictions against entities that help Russia circumvent sanctions could strengthen the US negotiating position and increase economic pressure on Russia.

In response, the US Treasury Department recalled the already introduced restrictions against the Russian oil sector and stated that the administration would act in the interests of US national security and the desire to end the war.

The State Department did not comment on possible future sanctions decisions.

In parallel, a new sanctions law is being promoted in Congress

The discussion is taking place against the backdrop of the advancement in Congress of a separate large-scale bill to increase pressure on Russia, one of the initiators of which was Senator Lindsey Graham.

The initial version of the document provided for the possibility of introducing 500 percent tariffs on goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and other raw materials. After negotiations with the White House, the potential tariff was reduced to 100%.

On July 28, during the first procedural vote, the bill was supported by 86 senators.

At the same time, further passage of the document remains difficult. Some Democrats and Republicans fear that the broad tariff powers provided for in the bill could be used by Trump not only against Russia’s trading partners, but also in relations with US allies.

Thus, two discussions are underway in Washington at the same time: on the need to restore regular sanctions against schemes to circumvent restrictions and on the adoption of a new large-scale mechanism for economic pressure on Russia.