Russia and U.S. to meet amid new energy sanctions

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that representatives from Russia and the United States will meet in the coming weeks to address differences between the two nations. While Ryabkov noted that these meetings have become routine and useful, he stated that the pace of substantial progress has been lower than desired.

This diplomatic development follows the signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act of 2026 by President Donald Trump. The law expands sanctions against Russia and Iran, targeting officials, banks, and strategic economic sectors. Notably, it empowers the U.S. Executive Branch to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that purchase Russian energy, a move that could significantly impact major buyers such as China and India.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that the new law, which also targets the ‘shadow fleet’ of tankers used to bypass Western restrictions, will not have a positive impact on negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine.