Biden’s Russia Sanctions Hamper Trump’s Options

The Biden administration’s sanctions on Russia’s energy sector will be difficult for a Trump administration to reverse, according to the Washington Post.

The Washington Post reports that President Biden’s administration has implemented sanctions against Russia’s energy sector, creating significant political and legal obstacles for President-elect Trump should he attempt to rescind them.

The article contends that these sanctions present considerable challenges for Trump, should he choose to lift them.

Key impediments include the legal framework underpinning the sanctions and the anticipated strong opposition from Congress.

Prior support from Republican lawmakers for stricter penalties further complicates any potential reversal by Trump.

“It’s entirely up to [the next administration] to determine whether, when, and on what terms they might lift any sanctions we put in place,” a senior Biden official stated. However, existing sanctions legislation empowers Congress to block any attempts to ease restrictions.

This framework severely limits Trump’s options, potentially forcing him to maintain pressure on Moscow despite his preference for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Michael Waltz, Trump’s incoming national security advisor, has advocated using sanctions to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations.

In a pre-election article for The Economist, Waltz wrote: “If [Putin] refuses to talk, Washington can… provide more weapons to Ukraine with fewer restrictions. Faced with this pressure, Mr. Putin will probably take the opportunity to wind the conflict down.”

The recent US measures target energy giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 oil tankers, aiming to disrupt Russia’s energy industry, a key source of government funding.

These measures also tighten US Treasury Department licensing, restricting Moscow’s ability to receive dollar payments for energy exports. The timing, shortly before Trump’s inauguration, has prompted accusations of deliberate sabotage from Moscow.

“Of course, we are aware that the administration will try to leave the most difficult legacy possible in bilateral relations to Trump and his associates,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented before the sanctions announcement.

Biden officials have characterized the sanctions as a long-term strategy. “We believe our actions are leaving a solid foundation upon which the next administration can build,” one official said, predicting the measures would cost Russia billions in monthly revenue and necessitate “hard decisions” regarding economic sustainability.

Given the sanctions’ connection to bipartisan legislation, any attempt to reverse them is expected to encounter congressional resistance, limiting Trump’s options upon assuming office, the Washington Post concludes.