The US is preparing sanctions against both China and Russia; will these measures stop Russia’s war in Ukraine?

Amid rising tensions with Moscow and Beijing, the US Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill that would target China with tough sanctions for its role in supporting the Russian military machine. The sanctions would target Chinese organizations, banks, and executives who directly or indirectly contribute to supplying equipment and parts for Russian weapons, including missiles, drones, and ammunition that Moscow actively uses in the war against Ukraine. It is expected that the legislation will create real leverage to end the conflict.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump doubts that his ultimatum will influence Russian leader Vladimir Putin. “I don’t know if he is bothered by the sanctions”, Trump said on July 31. However, he plans to tighten sanctions against buyers of Russian oil and the Russian banking sector, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker believes the new sanctions will deprive Moscow of the means to finance the war, while the Hague Center for Strategic Studies states that sanctions alone will not change Russia’s behavior, and only the destruction of the Russian economy might lead to some shifts in the Kremlin’s policy. In Ukraine, estimates suggest that if Trump implements 100% tariffs on goods from countries buying Russian oil starting in September, Russia could lose up to $30B by year’s end.