Bloomberg: European officials alarmed as US scales back Russia sanctions enforcement

European officials are expressing concern over the Trump administration’s diminished involvement in efforts to enforce sanctions on Russia as Washington increasingly focuses on ending the war in Ukraine.

According to unnamed officials who spoke to Bloomberg, the US has been largely absent from several key working groups established by its allies to curb attempts to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia, Caliber.Az reports.

One group, focused on preventing Russia from acquiring parts and equipment essential for weapons production, has seen little US engagement. Similarly, another working group, which monitors the Group of Seven (G7) price cap on Russian oil, has also seen minimal US participation.

It remains unclear whether this shift represents a strategic decision by the US to scale back its involvement, or if it is simply a result of a lack of key personnel, the officials noted. Some meetings have been attended by junior officials with limited decision-making power, they added. The US Treasury Department declined to comment on the matter.

The reduced engagement comes at a time when sanctions against Russia, imposed after its invasion of Ukraine, have become a point of friction between Washington and Kyiv’s European allies. President Trump has pushed for an end to the war, while Russian President Vladimir Putin demands the removal of trade restrictions as a condition for any ceasefire. European leaders, however, have made it clear they are not prepared to lift these sanctions just yet.

While Trump has stated his willingness to escalate sanctions if Russia fails to engage seriously in peace talks, European officials have observed little sign of such preparations. The US has not shown clear actions to address attempts to bypass existing sanctions either.

However, the Trump administration did tighten restrictions earlier this month, allowing a license covering energy payments to certain banks to expire. The US also withdrew in February from the KleptoCapture task force, established by the Biden administration to enforce sanctions on Russia. Additionally, the US has continued to ramp up sanctions elsewhere, notably targeting Iran, with the Treasury Department recently imposing sanctions on a Chinese oil refinery accused of accepting Iranian oil shipments.

Despite these moves, the US has signaled that its sanctions on Russia will remain in place as long as the war continues, with some relief possibly part of any eventual deal.

In 2022, the US and its allies set up various working groups and task forces to coordinate the enforcement of sanctions, with a particular focus on cutting off Russia’s access to critical technology and military supplies. These efforts include joint sanctions on companies in third countries seen as aiding Russia, and diplomatic pressure on nations like the UAE and India to stop facilitating trade routes for Moscow.

While the UK, European Union, and other G7 members continue their enforcement efforts, the absence of stronger US involvement raises questions about the future coordination of sanctions against Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova