Warren, Coons Press Rubio and Bessent to Explain Unprecedented Halt in Regular Russia Sanctions, Even After Admitting Talks Stalled

Warren, Coons Press Rubio and Bessent to Explain Unprecedented Halt in Regular Russia Sanctions, Even After Admitting Talks Stalled

"If the Administration paused regular Russia sanctions because of peace talks, and those talks stalled months ago, why hasn't the Administration resumed routine and frequent U.S. sanctions to rebuild leverage for a just peace in Ukraine?"

"Due to this inaction, over 1,000 additional companies, individuals, and vessels supporting Russia's military industrial base are likely operating free of U.S. sanctions."

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent requesting an explanation of the Trump Administration's now 17-month pause on regular, targeted Russia sanctions to counter the rampant evasion of sanctions and export controls that has been feeding Russia's unjustified war on Ukraine.

The letter notes that the Trump Administration has repeatedly sanctioned Iran and Cuba during talks with those countries. With respect to Russia, though, Secretary Bessent testified in February 2026 that the Administration wanted to keep waiting-after almost a year of negotiations-to "see where the peace talks go" before resuming certain Russia counter-evasion sanctions. Secretary Rubio has since stated that talks "were not fruitful" and that "there are no such talks occurring at this time," yet the pause continues.

"From February 2022 to January 2025, the Departments of the Treasury and State implemented 111 sets of sanctions in response to Russia's war of aggression, with each set targeting up to hundreds of entities and individuals globally. Consistent U.S. action helped disrupt procurement networks, raise costs for Russia, and demonstrate that the Kremlin cannot escape pressure while brutally attacking Ukraine," wrote the Ranking Members.

"In contrast, the Trump Administration has issued sanctions once under its Russia authority, and it has not used that authority to address rampant evasion of sanctions and export controls," continued the Ranking Members.

In light of these facts, Ranking Members Warren and Coons requested responses from Secretaries Rubio and Bessent to the following question no later than August 28, 2026: If the Administration paused regular Russia sanctions because of peace talks, and those talks stalled months ago, why hasn't the Administration resumed routine and frequent U.S. sanctions to rebuild leverage for a just peace in Ukraine?

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