Russian Analyst Warns New U.S. Sanctions Could Undermine Dialogue With Moscow

Sergei Markov, director of the Russian Institute for Political Studies, said new sanctions imposed by Washington would effectively undermine the ongoing dialogue between Russia and the United States, describing recent U.S. measures as a surprise to Moscow.

In televised remarks, Markov said the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to begin imposing sanctions on oil companies while discussions were still underway caught Russian officials off guard and sent a negative signal about Washington’s commitment to negotiations.

He added that political expectations inside Russia remain limited regarding President Trump’s ability to deliver a realistic peace agreement, citing strong European pressure and what he described as the U.S. president’s inability to firmly confront European allies and the Ukrainian leadership to reach what Moscow would consider fair conditions for ending the war.

Markov further warned that the situation in Ukraine and Russia’s relations with the United States include what he called the implementation of threats directed at Russian territory, raising the level of risk in the conflict.

He stressed that the United States should not be viewed as a neutral party, arguing that Washington is involved through a military framework with European countries. According to Markov, this dynamic makes efforts to halt the war highly dangerous and could even lead to the risk of a nuclear confrontation.

The comments reflect growing Russian criticism of U.S. policy amid continued fighting in Ukraine and stalled diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.