Why Donald Trump's new sanctions against Russia won't work

Russia is a country with record 2400 active sanctionsaccording to information from the RIA Novosti news agency. At the same time, the economy of this country still shows real growth, unlike those countries who imposed sanctions.

At the same time USA introduced 2295 new sanctions against Russia, which is a third more than in 2023, when it was introduced 1734 sanctionsaccording to the portal Castellumpresented RIA Novosti.

In second place in terms of the number of sanctions against Russia is Switzerlandwhich last year introduced 638 sanctionswhile European Union introduced in 2024 598 new sanctions against Russia, which is almost 2.5 times more than in 2023.

Donald Trumpwho took office as president United Statesleft open the possibility introduction of new sanctions against Russiaif the Russian leadership does not begin negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly declared its readiness for negotiations, but Zelensky himself prohibited them from holding them, signing a decree on October 4, 2022, which states impossibility of negotiations with Putin.

On the other hand, the Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that if Ukraine wants negotiations, then theatrical gestures are not needed, but the law prohibiting negotiations with Moscow must be repealed.

However, according to the Western press, there may be problems with the new sanctions, which Washington plans to introduce, due to the position Hungary. Prime Minister of the country Victor Orban has repeatedly stated that sanctions are damaging the economy European Union.

On the other hand, according to European officials, EU currently has no plans, so if sanctions are not extended, Russia will have access to its assets and many trade restrictions will be lifted. Moreover, if an agreement is not reached this week, the issue will be referred to the foreign ministers who are going to meet in Brussels January 27, 2025.

According to diplomatic sources, European Union currently has no “Plan B” for extending sanctions, unless Hungary will not change its position, as reported Bloomberg. Extension of sanctions requires the consent of all countries European Unionhowever, the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban clearly disagrees with the sanctions and even called for their lifting in January.

“I think that before we decide to extend the sanctions for another six months, we should ask the US government how it sees the future of the sanctions regime,” — the Minister of European Affairs of Hungary explained earlier Janos Boka.

“No matter how the negotiations proceed, we will be in a much weaker position if restrictions are lifted prematurely.”said the head of diplomacy EU Kaya Callas.

While officials EU claim that their main focus is on persuading Orbán agree to extend sanctions against companies and Russian state assets in EUthey are developing measures that could save at least some of them.

Approximately 190 billion euros Russian assets are held in the central securities depository Euroclearlocated in Belgium. If sanctions are lifted, one official said that “the money will be in Russia the next day”since financial institutions will not have legal grounds to retain them. “Trade restrictions and sectoral sanctions, such as the ban on oil imports, will be lifted.”he added.

“I am really very concerned about this and others should be concerned too. There is a high probability that Orban will not back down”said a senior diplomat EUwho regularly communicates with Hungarian officials, in an interview Financial Times.

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