The Strategic Restraint: Why Trump Hesitates to Enforce Sanctions on Russia Amid Ongoing Conflict

Why Does Trump Hold Back on Punishing Russia and Putin?

September 1, 2025 – CNBC Report by Holly Ellyatt

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned he will add more sanctions on Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, if Moscow does not start peace talks or call for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Though Russian forces move more and Moscow shows no sign of talks, Trump sits back from new harsh actions.

A Strategic Pause in Sanctions

Experts note that this pause is part of a deep plan. Chris Weafer, head of Macro-Advisory in Moscow, says Russia’s money is already squeezed by limits on its oil trade. More sanctions might push Russia’s budget beyond its limit, but these tough moves have not come yet.

Reasons Behind Trump’s Reluctance

Two main points shape Trump’s slow move:

Aiming to Mediate Peace: Trump shows a clear wish to be the one who brings the sides together. With the Nobel Peace Prize soon in early October, many think the president plans to win praise for solving the conflict by talks instead of force.
Worry Over Russia and China Growing Close: Some in the U.S. fear that if Russia is cut off by the West, it may turn closer to China. A bond between Russia and China could give Beijing better access to Russian energy, materials, military tools, and key territories in the Arctic. This closeness might bar the U.S. from important areas and boost China’s rank in the world.

Chris Weafer said, “Official voices in Washington do not want Russia to end up under China’s wing; they work to keep Russia active with the West.” This care shapes when and how harsh the sanctions will be.

Reaction from Ukraine and the West

Ukraine shows anger at what many see as missed limits and broken promises from Washington. Trump set a line with a ceasefire date on August 8, but the fighting did not stop. John Herbst, who once led U.S. ties with Ukraine and now heads the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, said Trump’s delay has left Kyiv and European friends "gritting their teeth," waiting for the White House to see that Russia acts to avoid real impact.

The New Geopolitical Scene: China-Russia-India Relations

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on September 1, 2025, major eastern powers met. Leaders including Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined with 20 other state heads.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an end to a "Cold War mindset" and asked for more help among states. At the summit, Putin spoke of a chance to form a new political and social order away from a usual Euro-Atlantic group. He felt that recent meetings with Trump and current talks may help bring peace to Ukraine.

Outlook

Sanctions remain a key tool in U.S. efforts to press Russia. Yet, the U.S. now faces a hard mix of pushing Moscow and stopping a deep Russia-China tie. The White House has not yet explained its next moves, leaving friends in Ukraine and around the world to wait.

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Key Takeaways:

Trump holds back new sanctions to play a role as a mediator and to discourage a closer Russia-China bond.
New limits might force Russia’s economy into more trouble but could also speed up its move toward China.
Ukraine and its European friends are upset with what they see as slow or missing action.
The SCO summit shows that power in Eurasia is shifting.
The U.S. faces a hard task in balancing pressure on Moscow with wider global ties.

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