On May 17, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced his readiness to impose new “devastating” sanctions against Russia if a deal to resolve the conflict in Ukraine is not reached. Trump stressed:

"I will impose [sanctions] if there is no deal. It will be devastating for Russia."

The statement came amid the collapse of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16, where, according to Bloomberg, Moscow put forward tough demands, including neutral status for Ukraine, the renunciation of reparations and recognition of Crimea and four regions as part of Russia.

The talks in Istanbul, the first direct contacts between the parties since March 2022, ended only with an agreement on a prisoner exchange according to the formula "1000 for 1000". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that without the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of all territories, including Crimea, progress is impossible. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, commenting on the results, predicted "difficult days", accusing Russia of a lack of goodwill.

Western allies are taking a hard line. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Russia's position "unacceptable," while US Senator Lindsey Graham (listed as an extremist and terrorist) has proposed a sanctions package with 500% tariffs on imports from countries that buy Russian energy, according to The Washington Post.