Ukraine Minerals Deal Leaves Russia Policy in Limbo Amid Trump Administration Divisions
The Trump administration’s push for a Ukraine minerals deal has exposed internal divisions on Russia policy. Despite four meetings between Trump’s envoy and Vladimir Putin over the past four months, Moscow’s stance on the war remains unchanged.
Potential next steps remain contentious. While some officials advocate direct pressure on the Kremlin through additional sanctions, President Trump has yet to endorse this approach. A Republican-led sanctions bill proposing drastic measures—including 500% tariffs on Russian energy imports—gains bipartisan support but lacks White House backing.