USA prepares new sanctions against Russia: will this push Putin to peace.

According to ТСН: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated that the Russian economy is facing serious problems and called on the West to increase pressure on Russia.

According to Bloomberg, the USA plans to introduce a new package of sanctions against the Russian energy sector if Putin does not agree to a peace deal actively promoted by the Trump administration. Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA Olga Stefanishina also reported that a bipartisan bill was introduced in the US Senate that envisages punishing Putin's 'friends' for purchasing Russian energy resources. The European Union is also developing its 20th bill after the New Year holidays.

Negotiations on peace initiatives

Can these actions force Putin to agree to a ceasefire? Are the USA considering Europe’s position in promoting the peace plan? The question of the possibility of continuing negotiations in 2026 also remains open.

Expert Mateusz Piotrowski during the Fifth Ukrainian Central European Forum 'Ukrainian Prism' noted:

'I am not sure if this will be a ceasefire agreement. Russia will not change its approach in the long term. A ceasefire may happen if the USA acknowledges there is a problem with Russia and needs to abandon the process of lifting sanctions. The war actually helps Russia to a certain extent.'

He also noted that Putin may seek to prolong the war and lift sanctions, so negotiations may be prolonged.

Europe's role in negotiations

According to Piotrowski, Europe is not the main player in these negotiations.

'I do not think Europe is the main player here. We are just part of these negotiations. The USA actually do not want us to be there.'

The expert believes that Russia's goal is to wait until the USA withdraw from the negotiation process and start discussions on lifting sanctions. The most likely scenario is the continuation of negotiations in 2026.

Mateusz Piotrowski added that

'sanctions will be lifted, but I do not know if there will be enough political will from the USA to reinstate those sanctions when Russia tries to act aggressively again.'

Thus, the situation around the negotiations for a peace settlement remains tense. The international community is actively working on new sanctions, hoping for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, yet much depends on Russia's position and its intentions moving forward.