The U.S. administration is expected to avoid imposing additional sanctions under the recently enacted Russian sanctions bill, according to sources cited on October 13.
The legislation, which targets senior Russian officials and state-owned entities while imposing secondary sanctions on Russia’s trading partners, was approved by Congress and signed into law by former President Donald Trump on September 18.
Under the terms of the law, the administration has 30 days from signing — expiring October 18 — to identify specific individuals and organizations subject to sanctions. During this period, the government may also determine that further sanctions would no longer serve U.S. interests and formally notify Congress of its decision.
Congressional insiders indicated that the White House is likely to exercise its authority to refrain from expanding sanctions. “The administration can easily submit a waiver to block sanctions, and this is precisely what will occur,” one source stated. “Once that action takes effect, no changes are possible due to how the law is structured.”
Earlier reports suggested that Trump had pressured Republican leadership in Congress to adopt the bill, aiming to secure anti-Russian restrictions.
