MOSCOW, November 17. . US President Donald Trump, with statements in support of the bill introducing sanctions against Russia's partners, wants to immediately achieve new concessions from Russia in resolving the Ukraine issue and increase pressure on a number of countries that are beneficial to this. This opinion was expressed in an interview with by Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University, Valdai Club expert.
He said that this move by the US administration is first of all “another attempt to increase pressure on Russia, trying to gain concessions from this country on both the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the conditions for the final peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.”
“That is, this is an attempt to increase pressure on Russia, to make it clear that the Trump administration will seek new concessions from Russia and increase pressure on those countries where the Trump administration is interested in increasing pressure, but not on China and India,” Suslov noted.
At the same time, according to this expert, the US, in increasing pressure on Russia, will “act carefully both at the level of words and at the level of practical steps, even after imposing sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft”.
“But since US Secretary of State Marco Rubio quite rightly noted that there is practically no place to introduce new sanctions against Russia itself, the United States, in terms of applying increased pressure, will once again try to create the impression of increased pressure on its partners,” said Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics.
Do not harm your own trading interests
In this regard, Suslov noted that Trump's statements can be considered “some indirect evidence supporting such decisions, and not this bill in the literal sense,” since today Washington is not interested in imposing 500% tariffs on China and India.
“They have a very fragile trade truce with China. And it is absolutely certain that in the near future, the Trump administration will not introduce any restrictive measures against China, otherwise everything will collapse in terms of the trade truce. They will also not take measures related to Russia-China cooperation,” the expert pointed out. “The Trump administration is also looking to reach a trade deal with India, so it is unlikely to take any serious steps.”
Therefore, Suslov suggested that potential new anti-Russian measures could be aimed at some countries “where the Trump administration is not afraid but, on the contrary, is interested in introducing some tough measures.”
“And here the cooperation of such countries with Russia can become another reason to include them in the list of additional sanctions, introducing a number of new strict restrictions on them, including tariffs and other restrictions,” Suslov said. “And here, of course, Iran could also be included, especially as the Trump administration is itself increasing pressure on Iran, seeking concessions on Iran's nuclear program and negotiations on these concessions. Venezuela could also be included, in connection with the United States increasing pressure, including through military means.”
About the invoice
The bill in question was introduced in early April by a bipartisan group of Senate members. The main authors of the document are Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican from South Carolina, on Russia's list of terrorists and extremists) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat from Connecticut). The initiative also introduces secondary sanctions against Russia's trading partners. The senators' proposal includes a 500% import tax on imports into the United States from countries that buy oil, gas, uranium and other goods from Russia.
