The European Union is currently reviewing U.S. sanctions on Russia implemented during President Biden's administration, amid concerns that these measures could be repealed by Donald Trump if he returns to the White House.
According to the Financial Times, senior officials in Brussels are conducting the review to assess how the potential reversal of Biden-era executive orders might impact trade relations and EU initiatives. This analysis extends beyond sanctions on Russia to include Biden’s directives on trade and cybersecurity, which are also under scrutiny for their possible consequences if rescinded.
The prospect of President-elect Trump’s inauguration has fueled speculation about significant shifts in U.S. strategy regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kyiv’s heavy reliance on U.S. aid, coupled with skepticism within Trump’s camp about the high levels of spending on this assistance, has heightened fears that Ukraine’s defensive efforts could be undermined. These concerns have prompted the Biden administration to deliver a series of substantial defense packages aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s armed forces before the transition of power.
U.S. sanctions on Russia are now facing renewed scrutiny, raising questions about their role in the broader effort to limit Russia’s military-financing capabilities. While the sanctions have failed to deter Vladimir Putin from continuing the invasion and have sparked debate about their overall efficacy, they have undeniably placed significant strain on the Russian economy.
Since the start of the invasion, the U.S. has led efforts to impose sanctions on Russia. The most notable package came in February 2024, when President Biden announced over 500 new sanctions in response to both the invasion and the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Despite this, Trump has expressed reservations about the sanctions framework. In a July interview with Bloomberg, he criticized the approach, stating, "So what we’re doing with sanctions is we’re forcing everyone away from us. So I don’t love sanctions."
However, during his previous presidency, Trump imposed hundreds of sanctions on Russia as part of the U.S. response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, harmful cyber operations, election interference, and support for nations like North Korea. Legislative restrictions, such as the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which Trump reluctantly signed into law in August 2017, may limit his ability to unilaterally roll back Biden-era sanctions.
Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Finance and Security at the Royal United Services Institute, emphasized that Europe must step up its sanctions efforts independently of the U.S. In a November column for the Kyiv Independent, he wrote, "Europe can no longer jog behind Uncle Sam. It’s time for Europe to shed its timidity and show what it has learned. Anything less will be a betrayal of the Ukrainian people at a time when they need Europe more than ever."
Jeremy Pizzi, legal adviser at Global Rights Compliance, warned Newsweek that a U.S. withdrawal of support for Ukraine could destabilize the international legal framework that has underpinned global peace and stability for decades. Similarly, Daniel Tannebaum, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted in a November article that while G7 partners’ concerns about a rollback of sanctions are valid, procedural hurdles would make it challenging for the next administration to fully dismantle the existing sanctions regime.
As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, he has vowed to prioritize resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a central focus of his foreign policy.
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