Trump extends sanctions on Russia ahead of historic Zelenskyy visit to White House

US President Donald Trump has extended sanctions on Russia and renewed the state of emergency declaration concerning Ukraine, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s arrival in Washington for a landmark meeting later today, February 28.

The extended sanctions, originally imposed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, will remain in effect, with the declaration continuing until March 6, 2026, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The executive decree states that the actions and policies addressed in these orders continue to present “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

This decision follows Trump's comments during a joint press conference with Keir Starmer on February 27, where he suggested that a peace agreement in Ukraine was either “likely to happen soon or not at all.”

Trump has been advocating for peace in Ukraine and has renewed diplomatic engagement with Moscow, stating his belief that President Vladimir Putin could be trusted to uphold any agreement made. "I have confidence that if we make a deal, it’s going to hold,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy, who arrived in the US overnight, is set to sign a crucial minerals deal with the US, a pact that President Trump has described as a key security measure against potential Russian aggression in the future.

By Aghakazim Guliyev