After a lengthy phone call on May 19 between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, hopes for renewed or tougher U.S. sanctions on Russia appear increasingly remote. The nearly two-hour conversation, followed by Trump’s public remarks, has sparked concern among analysts, European allies, and U.S. officials that Washington’s posture toward Moscow could be shifting—again.
A Conversation with Global Ripples
According to multiple outlets, including Reuters and CBS News, Trump and Putin spoke for nearly two hours in what the president called a “frank and constructive” exchange. Trump later told that the two leaders had agreed Russia and Ukraine would begin immediate ceasefire negotiations. However, the Kremlin’s official statement omitted any reference to timelines or concrete outcomes, noting only that the dialogue included “a discussion of international stability and mutual concerns.”
During a follow-up conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump claimed, “There’s a good chance of peace soon.” But Western observers remain unconvinced. “We’ve heard this language before,” said a senior European diplomat in The Washington Post. “It rarely leads to action.”
Sanctions in the Crosshairs
While European leaders continue to push for stronger economic penalties against Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Trump’s rhetoric appears to signal a turn in the opposite direction. Outlets including The Kyiv Independent and CBS News report that Trump is unlikely to support any new U.S. sanctions against Moscow.
Speaking in Arizona shortly after the call, Trump described sanctions as “ineffective” and said they “only hurt regular people.” Instead, he stressed the need for diplomacy, consistent with his long-standing approach of personal engagement with Putin. The tone marks a notable contrast to President Biden’s incremental tightening of economic pressure on the Kremlin throughout his term.
Mixed Signals to Allies
European capitals reacted with caution. According to The Guardian, French and German officials worry that Trump’s conciliatory tone could weaken transatlantic unity on Russia. “If the U.S. signals it’s backing off, the whole sanctions regime could start to crack,” an EU official told El País.
Despite public expressions of optimism, Ukraine’s leadership remains wary. A senior aide to President Zelenskyy told The Times (UK), “We appreciate any steps toward peace, but talks must not come at the cost of justice or sovereignty.”
What Wasn’t Said Speaks Loudest
While Trump emphasized “great progress” and “mutual understanding,” several critical topics were notably absent from his public remarks. These included Russia’s continued occupation of Ukrainian territory, ongoing missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. There was also no mention of security guarantees for Ukraine or accountability for alleged war crimes.
This omission fuels concern among foreign policy experts that Putin is leveraging Trump’s platform to present a moderated image to the world—without changing course. Foreign Policy reported that some analysts view Trump’s statements as handing Moscow “a propaganda win without a policy shift.”
Whether Trump’s dialogue with Putin amounts to genuine diplomatic progress or simply signals a retreat from economic pressure remains to be seen.
